Protests on college campuses in our nation and beyond concerning the war in Gaza have sparked a multitude of reactions and some uncomfortable memories of protests on college campuses in the 1960s. What are we as Christians to say about these events that center on a conflict between Palestinians and Israelis half a world away? Perhaps the first thing to be said is that this is not at heart a religious conflict. The state of Israel does not speak or act for Judaism or the Israel of the Bible; it is a modern state that has its own political and national interests. Neither does Hamas speak for any one religion or for all Palestinians; many are Muslim, but not all. They reflect political and national interests related to eviction from their homes with the creation of the state of Israel and their aspirations for a nation of their own. Jews are joining in the protests against the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza, and there are Palestinians appalled at the actions of Hamas who are calling for the release of the hostages. Secondly, while the majority of the protests are peaceful, those garnering the headlines are the protestors who have crossed the line from peaceful dissent to violence, destruction, and anti-Semitic rhetoric and actions. We should support those who are calling for an end to war, the release of the hostages, the delivery of food to the hungry to alleviate suffering, and a plan forward for peace that respects the lives of all. We should be a voice calling for justice for those who have suffered losses, those who have been driven from their homes by the brutal attacks by Hamas, the indiscriminate bombing by Israel, and the denial of access to food, water, and medicines for displaced Palestinians. As so often is the case, it is the innocent who suffer, and we should be righteously angry at the callous disregard for human life on both sides of this conflict. Thirdly, we should support those who make their voices heard through peaceful protest and hold accountable those who cross the line into intimidation, racist rhetoric, violence, and destructive behavior. At times, peaceful protests have been coopted by outside agitators with their own agendas, but it is also the case that some protestors have been carried away by anger to act unjustly or illegally, and they should face consequences for their actions. Finally, we should be praying for a resolution, and not simply ignoring the conflict as if it were of no consequence to us. These are our brothers and sisters who are suffering, and we should seek to alleviate the suffering where we can. Sometimes, the best that we can do is simply to pray, and so we should pray! It can be tempting in this conflict, as in so many others, to make this a black-and-white issue without recognizing the nuances of the problems and the varied interests of those involved. Hamas’s attack was unconscionable as is Israel’s response that has killed so many Innocent people, including thousands of children. We should demand better from all sides, including ourselves, and pray for a just peace that will bring an end to the violence and allow all the people to live in peace, for that is the dream of most of the folks involved in this conflict.
– John Peterson
