Conflict that is bigger than us: Understanding the conflict in Israel and what we can do about it
Trinity Adams, Staff Writer
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been going on for decades. According to the BBC, this conflict stems from the issue of whether or not Palestine is the ancestral home of Jews or Arabs.
Since the conflict between Israel and Palestine began, many teachers and students have been taking the time to pray at the beginning of class for the people who have been affected by the tragedy.
Assistant Director for the Institute for Global Leadership, Crystalyn Wyatt, shared what activities might be held to support Israel: “Our goal is to do a prayer time where we take time out of the day and students specifically pray for what’s going on–to pray for peace and for people who are dying and don’t know the Lord.”
According to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the terrorist group Hamas came into power after an election in 2006. Since then they have controlled the Gaza Strip. Hamas is a militant Islamic group that launched a surprise attack on Israel in early October. Israel declared war on Hamas after the deadliest attack in Israeli history.
The CFR provides detailed information about Hamas: its origins, goals, and why this conflict is taking place.
They said, ”Hamas, an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (“Islamic Resistance Movement”), was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a Palestinian cleric who became an activist in local branches of the Muslim Brotherhood after dedicating his early life to Islamic scholarship in Cairo.”
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas launched several thousand rockets into southern and central Israel. After the bombing, the Hamas organization crossed through the Gaza border, where they killed 1,400 people, kidnapping and wounding many more.
Since the attack, Israel has cut off basic supplies like gas, food and water to the people in Gaza.
CNN has reported that Israel has continued a land and water blockade that is cutting off emergency supplies to the people in Gaza: “A tiny trickle of aid has been allowed through but otherwise the crossing has remained shut.”
Many Christians are concerned with the biblical implications of this war. They think this war is a sign of the end times, but Wyatt believes that there are bigger biblical implications to this war.
“Without Christ, people are evil and that is what’s happening right now in Israel–is evil. There are people who don’t have the Lord who has stooped to this level where they are willing to endanger and hurt other human life. They are attacking image bearers of God, and I think that that is the biggest biblical issue right now,” she said.
Wyatt added, “It’s humans against humans, and it’s heartbreaking. The reality is that there are people right now who are dying and going to hell. They will forever be separated from the love of God because of this conflict, and their life could end because of it.”
Wyatt’s point about the brokenness of humanity is something that many people resonate with. War not only hurts countries and economies, but it brings harm to God’s image bearers, many of whom don’t know who Christ is.
