by Isabel Smyth

The tragedy of war in Gaza continues.  The voices of ordinary men and women from Palestine and Israel go unheard by those in power. How are Christians to respond?

At a recent demonstration in Palestine against the Hamas government, cries of ‘All of Hamas, out!’ were heard. One participant said ‘The world thinks that Gaza is Hamas and Hamas is Gaza. We didn’t choose Hamas… Hamas must retreat.’ Al- Natour, a columnist in the Washington Post earlier this year wrote ‘To support Hamas is to be for Palestinian death, not Palestinian freedom’. To engage in such opposition is both courageous and dangerous. Amnesty International has documented what it calls ‘a disturbing pattern of threats, intimidation and harassment, including interrogations and beatings by Hamas against peaceful protesters’.

So too there have been increasing demonstrations calling for peace and the return of hostages in Israel. An international coalition of over 80 orthodox rabbis urged Israel to confront the widespread starvation in Gaza and condemn extremist settler violence. In a statement entitled ‘A Call for Moral Clarity, Responsibility, and a Jewish Orthodox Response in the Face of the Gaza Humanitarian Crisis’ the signatories emphasise their deep bond with Israel and acknowledge the atrocities committed by Hamas but insist that this does not absolve Israel of responsibility for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. ‘The heart of Torah is justice, not revenge’ it states.

‘This moment demands a different voice – one grounded in our deepest Jewish values and informed by our traumatic history of persecution. We must affirm that Judaism’s vision of justice and compassion extends to all human being... Let us be resounding voices for justice, righteousness, and peace for all people – even and especially in the hardest of times’.

Isabel Smyth is a Sister of Notre Dame who has been involved in interfaith relations for many decades.

A one day conference on Interreligious dialogue in a time of conflict will be held at the Conforti Centre in Calder Avenue, Coatbridge, on October 18th. It will mark the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate. See Noticeboard for details.