What do we believe about the Palestinians?
Light of Messiah Ministries Statement on the Palestinian People
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a complex, emotionally charged issue with a long history. As a ministry to the Jewish community, we support Israel’s right to exist as the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people. However, that support does not mean that we do not also love and support the Palestinian people.
Love for Israelis and love for Palestinians are not mutually exclusive. As humans, when we care deeply for a group of people on one side of an issue, it is all too common to disregard or dissociate from the suffering of those on the other side. As followers of the Messiah, the one who loves all of humanity, we must firmly reject this temptation.
We are a kingdom-minded ministry, caring for the salvation of all nations. We affirm the apostle Paul’s words to the church in Rome: we are not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe, to the Jew first, and also the Gentile (Rom 1:16). With that in mind, following is our ministry’s statement on the Palestinian people in light of the current conflict:
1) The Palestinian people are loved by God and are created in God's image (Gen 1:27). God's love is for all nations. All people. Jesus gave his life for all, “because God so loved the world’ (Jn 3:16). This love is not passive, but it pursues us. God is at work in the Muslim world and among the Palestinian people, bringing many to himself. We believe that the horrible trauma experienced by the Palestinian community profoundly grieves God’s heart.
2) The Palestinian people have a right to live in peace and in safety. The majority of Palestinian people desire normalcy. They want to have a home, a job, and a safe, good life for their family. They are warm, welcoming, kind, and resilient. Tragically their aspirations of having their own state have largely been thwarted by a radical leadership that refuses to coexist alongside a Jewish state.
3) We work with and minister to Palestinians, Arabs, and other Muslim people. Our ministry’s focus is building bridges between the church and the Jewish community. When in Israel, we spend a lot of time connecting with the Muslim community as well. We have Palestinian friends, both Muslim and Christian.
4) Around 20% of Israel’s population is Palestinian-Israeli Arab. In Israel, diverse religious groups and ideologies coexist and live in peace.
5) The current issue at hand - the October 7th, 2023, terror attack in Israel and war between Israel and Hamas - is not about war against the Palestinian people. It is about Hamas, the internationally recognized terrorist group who rules the Gaza Strip (along with Palestinian Islamic Jihad). They keep their own people in terrible living conditions. They use their resources, including billions of dollars of humanitarian aid from Israel, the US, and other nations, to wage a continual war (jihad) against Israel. Meanwhile, their own population has been neglected and is suffering.
The Hamas charter (see especially articles 7, 13, and 15), as well as the Palestinian National Charter of 1968, openly call for the complete eradication of Israel in order for Palestine to be “liberated.” This means the genocide of the Jewish people, which cannot be accepted. This evil ideology and the encouragement of this goal by other Arab/Muslim nations since the founding of the State of Israel keeps the Palestinian people from finding a peaceful solution.
6) This war began when Hamas invaded Israeli territory on the morning of October 7th, 2023, brutally murdering over 1,300 Israelis, U.S. Citizens, and people from other countries. Torturing, raping, and kidnapping over 200 – mostly civilians including women, children, and elderly. Hamas could end this war very quickly by recognizing Israel as a sovereign nation, returning the hostages, and laying down their weapons. Sadly, this is unlikely to happen (see point 5).
7) The Palestinian people are paying a massive price for Hamas’ actions. Their suffering is tragic and heartbreaking. Over 3,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed at the time of this writing, many of them children. The cost of war is great. Though Israel never intentionally targets civilians, many have been and will be killed. The loss of innocent life is never acceptable and must always be mourned. We grieve with the Palestinian families along with the Israeli families.
8) We must pray for the Palestinian people. We pray for preservation of life, for mercy, safety, and for miraculous provision. We pray that they encounter Jesus and come to know the Lord. We pray for the spirit of radical Islam to be broken, and for blind eyes to be opened. We pray that other Arab countries will intervene on their behalf, advocate for them, and give safe passage to those who need it. We pray that the leaders of Hamas and other terrorist groups are brought to justice and cease their violent terrorism. We pray that hate and antisemitism would be replaced with the love of God.
We implore you to join us in these prayers.
Want to Learn More?
To learn more about the origins of this conflict, what is happening today, and the hope there there is for the future, check out the documentary, “Hope in the Holy Land.” It was created by our dear friend, Justin Kron, founder of the Kesher Forum. This film is exceptional. It explains the facts, maintains God’s heart and plan for Israel, and his heart for the Palestinian community.