How Should We View and Respond to the War Between Israel and Hamas?

In the pre-dawn hours of October 7th, 2023, Hamas fighters from the Gaza Strip launched a highly-coordinated air, sea and land offensive against Israel, overwhelming the nation’s defenses and terrorizing the countryside. Now, just a few days into the conflict, both the extent and barbarism of the attack is coming to light. If nothing else, one thing has become glaringly clear – this was not merely a military offensive, but an intentional, brutal massacre of civilians; including women, children and babies.  Such wholesale slaughter is pure evil and our moral outcry over these terrorist acts is wholly appropriate.  

But, among Christians, I have seen another trend – a support that goes beyond the simple American concern for the wellbeing of one of our allies or sympathies flowing from shared experiences of terrorist attacks, to something else.  Many Christians hold a belief that modern-day Israel is God’s special, chosen people, and, as physical descendents of Abraham, they have a right to the historical boundaries of Israel as outlined in the Old Testament. It can even give the impression that Israel has a good standing with God, despite on the whole, rejecting her Messiah. 

Here are some of the more common passages shared in support of Israel:

“When you touch Israel, you touch the Apple of GOD’s eye.” Zechariah 2:8

“He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. The LORD is thy keeper.” Psalm 121:4

“I will bless those that bless you and I will curse those that curse you.” Genesis 12:3
(This promise was actually made to Abram, before he became Abraham, not Israel)

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

It seems pretty cut and dry – don’t mess with Israel, or else! Yet even in Biblical times, we see God’s hand explicitly against Israel when they rebelled against Him.  As seen in passages such as Judges 2:14, God raised up entire nations to punish His people.  Israel was led into captivity.  They were conquered and occupied.  They were starved and massacred.  And despite these acts against Israel being evil and wicked in their own right, yet God purposed them for His good purposes, including the future salvation and restoration of Israel. But here, in the already-not yet, the question is, does an Israel that continues to reject her Messiah have a divine right to her ancient borders? Let’s consider that question!      

Here’s what I’m arguing for: As Christians, we should condemn and mourn over the wicked actions of Hamas against Israel, simply because their actions were patently evil.  But we must remember an Israel that stands in rebellion against her Messiah has no special right to the land. Romans 11 makes it clear that ethnic Israel has been cut off from the root of Abraham because they rejected their Messiah, but there is a day coming when the nation, en masse, will be grafted by God back into His life-giving root, falling at the feet of Jesus as their Savior and King! Until that day comes, we should not show partiality to Israel, but show compassion, both to those in Israel and Palestinians who weep and mourn in the midst of devastation and tragedy.    

A History Lesson

Perhaps a bit of modern history would help us to gain some perspective.  Prior to the twentieth century, a progression of kingdoms and peoples would lay claim to the lands of modern-day Israel.  From small Bronze Age tribes, to the twelve tribes of Israel, to superpowers like the Babylonians, Romans, and Ottoman empires, the land has changed hands countless times through conflict and conquest.  Add to this, the fact that Jews, Christians and Muslims all trace their spiritual roots to this region, and you can see why the area has, and continues to be, so hotly contested.  

Prior to 1922, less than 10% of the area’s population was made up of ethnic Jews – a far cry from the 51% of the population that we see today.  Fueled by a global Zionist movement, modern Jewish settlement began in 1882, but it would be another forty years before Jews, often fleeing violent anti-semitism in Europe and western Asia, would immigrate to the now British-controlled area of Palestine.  By 1938, just prior to World War Two, over 400,000 Jews had made Palestine home, representing roughly a third of the  region’s total population.  

Largely puppetted by Nazi instigators wishing to overthrow British rule, the late 1930’s were a time of tumult for the region, punctuated by the Arab Revolt of 1936-1939.  In response, the British recommended the establishment of a Jewish territory in the region of Galilee, but the proposal failed to gain acceptance. In the years following the horrors of World War Two, Jews began to legally and illegally immigrate to Palestine by the thousands, ballooning the Jewish population in the region to well over one million people, about 50% of the area’s overall population. Simultaneously,  Zionist insurgents began to wage a brutal guerilla war on the British – punctuated by the King David Hotel bombing that left 91 people dead.  Needless to say, things had gotten out of hand.

In 1947, in an attempt to find a resolution to the Palestine problem, the UN drafted a two-state proposal that triggered a civil war in the region, eventually leading to the establishment of the State of Israel. By the end of active hostilities, roughly 725,000 Palestinians had fled or been expelled from their ancestral homes by the new nation. Adding insult to injury, After being attacked by surrounding Arab nations, Israel occupied/annexed additional Palestinian territories as a result of the Six-Day War of 1967.  That same year, aided by the military, Israeli settlement began in many of these areas, forcibly relocating the area’s long-time inhabitants as they went.  By the early 2000’s, nearly 500,000 Israelis had settled in Palestinian territories.

Further adding to the ongoing hostilities is the financial disparities between the two areas, with Israel’s GDP hovering at forty times larger than that of the Palestinian territories, despite having just 40% more people. Healthcare, life expectancy, education, poverty – all are significantly worse in Palestinian held territories.  And while the blame for this cannot be wholly placed on Israel, their policies have undoubtedly contributed to the disparities we see today. 

Who is True Israel?

No doubt, there has been oppression, violence and hate on both sides of the border.  My point is not to make Israel out to be the bad guy, but to shed light on the historical events that have led to the war we see today.  But the lingering question that remains for me is, why do we as Americans, and especially as American Christians, tend to strongly support Israel and patently condemn Palestinians?  Does the Bible warrant such favoritism?  Are we truly siding with the people of God when we do this?  Does modern Israel really have a divine right to its ancient lands?  Let’s look to Romans 11 as we seek Biblical clarity on this divisive issue.   

“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

Then what advantage has the [ethnic] Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar”

Romans 2:28-3:4a, NASB 1995

Just as I presented some historical context, let’s broaden our view a bit to gain some important Biblical context.  Up above, we saw through the example of the Old Testament, that despite being God’s chosen people, there were times when Israel disobeyed and in turn suffered calamity and banishment under the just judgment of God.  

The book of Romans sheds significant light on the question of the place of ethnic Israel in our times. Let’s pick up the story in Chapter 8, where we see this grand array of over-the-top, lavish promises to Christians. But there’s a problem – or at least, a perceived problem that Paul must address.  If all of Israel has forsaken God and forfeited His promises – if God seemingly can’t keep Israel – then how in the world can we trust in the promises of Romans 8?  Paul unpacks this answer in Romans 9-11.  His first answer, found in Chapter 9, is that true Israel is made up of recipients of the promise, not through biological lineage.  And while the means of salvation has always been the gift of faith, on this side of the cross this faith is manifested in trusting, treasuring and boasting in Christ.  In other words, the church, made up mostly of Gentiles, as heirs of the promise (broadly including the promises to Israel – see Paul’s application of Old Testament promises to Israel to the church in 2 Corinthians 6:16-18), have become true Israel (See Ephesians 2:11-21, 3:5-6 for how Paul links Gentile believers with Israel).

But what about ethnic Israel – has God just discarded them?  I think not! As Paul continues, we see that the Lord has not forsaken Israel, but has a grand redemptive plan for her future!  As we continue in Romans 10, we find that the Lord is exposing Israel’s stubborn self-reliance and arrogance by bringing salvation primarily to the Gentiles.  And Finally, in Chapter 11, we see that God has and always will keep a faithful remnant of ethnic Israel, and that one day, when the fullness of the Gentiles comes in (verse 25), God will use this to bring about in Israel a jealous desire for their Messiah through faith, which will sweep through ethnic Jews, restoring to the nation it’s God-given place in redemptive history. And in so doing, God in His perfect wisdom will have not just saved ethnic Israel, but also rescued a panoply of people from every tribe, tongue and nation in the process.  Is this not a grand and glorious plan? 

“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;  and so all Israel will be saved;“

Romans 11:17-26a, NASB 1995

As we drill down to the passage above, let’s make just a few more observations:  

• 17-18 – Israel is severed from the life-giving root of the Kingdom, and in their place, God has grafted us Gentiles into the root.  But this should make us humble, not proud, and we must be diligent to guard against any sense of superiority or arrogance. For we are grafted in owing wholly to grace.  Therefore, our boast is not in our heritage or upbringing or intelligence, but only in the cross (Galatians 6:14, Ephesians 2:1-10) and not in our own merit or works.  We owe it all to grace!  
• 19-22 – The issue is, as it has always been (Hebrews 11), a matter of unbelief or faith.  And if Israel, who had all the benefits of being a part of the root (Romans 9:1-5) can fall into unbelief, it is God’s kindness alone that keeps us Gentiles from doing the same. 
• 23-24 – If God was able to graft in a people from out of paganism, how much easier will it be for Him to graft back in a people who once belonged to Him? 
• 25-26a – There is a time coming when Israel will be restored and take her rightful place in the Kingdom, and that day will come once the Lord has reached every tribe, tongue and nation with the Gospel.

Implications

So, how then should we approach this difficult subject?  Here’s 4 things I’d encourage you to keep in mind.    

1. We should be humble. Avoid making sweeping generalizations and judgments.  For the vast majority of us, we know precious little about what’s going on over there on an individual level, let alone how each individual’s experiences result in societal trends.  Even the best news sources have opinions and filters that shape what we hear and see. There is much nuance and history to this conflict that we just cannot fully know or understand.   
2. We should not show favoritism. Apply the same moral measuring stick to both Israel and Palestinians.  As Romans 12:9 implores us we should abhor what is evil and praise what is good on both sides.  Call a spade a spade, regardless of whose hand it is in.  
3. We should remember that, but by the grace of God, so go I.  It is due to the providence of God alone that most of us sit here, in relative comfort, safety and plenty while other people, equally made in the image of God, are suffering want, deprivation and loss.  It is by God’s grace alone that we have neither been murdered nor are murderers ourselves.  This should produce humility, compassion and even gospel-love for our enemies. 
4. We should remember the ending.  The end of the story is already written.  We know glorious things that will come to pass at the proper time.  But we’re not there yet.  In the meantime, and with eternity in our eyes, we should certainly be concerned for the physical wellbeing of both Israelis and Palestinians, and we should be doubly concerned for their eternal wellbeing.  

So, what now?  I encourage us all to pray for the peace of Israel – not because they have some current divine right to such peace – but because apart from the active work of God, such peace is unattainable, anywhere.  And we must not stop at praying for Israel, but with just as much fervency and intention, pray for Palestinians as well.  All need God’s rescue and restoration.  And look forward with great anticipation to the final peace of Israel, held fast in her Savior’s hands. Indeed, it will be a sweet day of peace that spreads to Palestine, throughout the Middle East, and to the ends of the earth.     

May we ever have our eyes fixed on the One who came to make an end of all of our sin, the One who always keeps His promises, to Gentiles and Jews alike!