February 28thFocus on Gaza
The news from Israel and Gaza continues to capture the attention of the world since Hamas’ horrific acts of violence in Israel on October 7, 2023.
Since over 1100 Israelis and foreign nationals were brutally killed by Hamas and nearly 250 kidnapped, Israel has responded with even greater deadly violence in Gaza. At this point, over 26,000 Gazans have been killed, the majority of them women and children, and another 65,000 have been wounded. More than 1.7 million Gazans have been displaced, roughly 80% of the population. Israeli bombing has damaged or destroyed well over half of the homes in Gaza.
Many among us are asking what we can do as a church to respond to this situation.
Our regional and nationwide Palestine-Israel Networks have been actively working to respond. “We are promoting prayer, amplifying Palestinian Christian voices, and calling for public political action,” says Byron Rempel-Burkholder, chair of the Mennonite Church Canada PIN.
He notes as particularly significant the voices of our Palestinian Christian siblings, with whom we have longstanding relationships through the work of Mennonite Central Committee and MC Canada International Witness in partnership with Bethlehem Bible College.
“The destruction of Gaza has been overwhelming, and many of our friends have seen relatives and fellow church members tragically affected,” Byron says. “We hear words of lament, tinged with a defiant and persistent faith. ‘Where is God?’ is a question that they have asked repeatedly, and the answer, so eloquently expressed by Reverend Munther Isaac of Bethlehem, is that ‘God is under the rubble.’”
The MC Canada and MCM PINs ask church members to join them, through phone calls, letters, and visits with Members of Parliament, in calling on the government of Canada to work with international partners toward a ceasefire in Gaza, a return of hostages, and to hold both Israel and Hamas accountable for their actions.
MCM Executive Minister Michael Pahl has joined in this call, promoting a ceasefire on his personal social media and writing several letters and emails to Canadian government officials since October 7. “As a historic peace church, as followers of Jesus, it is incumbent on us to speak up for peace,” he says. “The violence must end. We need to encourage a lasting solution that allows both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, with all the possibilities for flourishing life.”
Pray for peace in Israel and Palestine. If you would like to learn more about what you can do to work for peace in the region, see the MCM PIN page and the MC Canada PIN page and sign up for their newsletters. Also, check out a new initiative called Mennonite Action. To give to support our partners at Bethlehem Bible College, see here.
(Gaza destruction image used by permission via Wafa (Q2915969) in contract with a local company (APAimages)