This commentary is by Rev. Devon Thomas, pastor of the Ascension Lutheran Church in South Burlington.
As a minister who spends a lot of time thinking about the history of Israel and its relation to neighboring nations, it is hard for me not to view these events against the backdrop of history. The Middle East has been in constant religious, social, political and ethnic conflict for thousands of years. As Israel responds with attacks on Gaza, killing hundreds more, I feel I need to remind myself of the role I play in the ongoing conflict that is happening between people living in Israel and Gaza.
Last weekend, many of us were shocked by the news of Hamas’ all-out strike into Israel, which killed hundreds of innocent people and kidnapped many. This was a shock because, despite the rising tension in the area, we have become used to the status quo.
First, I am not uninvolved in these events. America is Israel’s greatest military and economic ally. As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, America will play a large part in how things unfold. In America’s current political climate, public perception will likely influence the way our nation reacts to this war, and I feel we as a people need to ask ourselves whether we value the innocent lives that are being lost, both among the Israelis and Palestinians, or if we will simply support America and Israel’s global agenda through the sale of arms and munitions?
Second, this war is not like Ukraine. In Ukraine, there is a clear aggressor and victim. For those of us who are paying attention to that conflict, we can see who to support. However, the struggle between Israelis and Palestinians has long been a controversial, ideological and complex debate in our nation. Many of us may be viewing this war with strong emotions, but this conflict is rooted in a long history of violence and abuse that boiled over last weekend.
The last thing that I remind myself about this war is that, no matter how I may feel about the issues of Israel and Gaza, innocent people are being massacred on both sides. These are people like you and me, who are trying to live their lives. They are parents with children, grandparents, friends, and neighbors. Over 1,000 innocent people have died in the last few days because the tactics Hamas and the IDF have used to destroy each other have little regard for everyday people.
So how do I process what is happening between Israelis and Palestinians?
I see this as an ongoing tragedy. Israel has long represented humanity’s struggle to get along. We call it the Holy Land, but for much of human history, we have not treated it with much sanctity or reverence. The Egyptians, Hittites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Sasanians, Umayyads, Crusaders, Mamelukes and Ottomans, up to the present day, we continue to see innocent people lose their lives in this so-called “Holy Land.”
Have we not learned anything from the Abrahamic faith traditions that occupy this region that have long implored us to love God and our neighbor? I see this war as yet another chapter in the ongoing failure of human beings to overcome our differences and treat others with respect and love.
I also think we Americans have a role to play in this story. Will we continue the mistakes of the past and feed into the violence, or will we call out the cruelty and hate that are perpetuating all this violence?
The people of Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel are not lambs to the slaughter. They are human beings, neighbors to one another, and deserve to be treated as such.
