Palestinian Christians have urged Western church leaders and theologians to repent of voicing ‘uncritical support for Israel’ and ‘re-examine’ their positions.
A group of Christians, including Kairos Palestine, Bethlehem Bible College, and Christ at the Checkpoint, has published an open letter saying they ‘grieve and lament the renewed cycle of violence in our land’.
Many of the group say they have lost family and friends in the Israeli airstrikes; and the bombardment of the ancient Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church wiped out entire Palestinian Christian families,
The petition, signed by more than 16,000 at the time of writing, says: ‘We watch with horror the way many Western Christians are offering unwavering support to Israel’s war against the people of Palestine. … Sadly, the actions and double standards of some Christian leaders have gravely hurt their Christian witness and have severely distorted their moral judgment with regards to the situation in our land.’
It continues: ‘We are disturbed by the silence of many church leaders and theologians when it is Palestinian civilians who are killed. We are also horrified by the refusal of some Western Christians to condemn the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestine, and, in some instances, their justification of and support for the occupation.’
‘Moreover, we categorically reject the myopic and distorted Christian responses that ignore the wider context and the root causes of this war … the horrific context of oppression that many Western Christian theologians and leaders have persistently ignored, and even worse, have occasionally legitimised using a wide range of Zionist theologies and interpretations.’
They said they are: ‘deeply troubled by the failure … to acknowledge the Biblical tradition of justice and mercy, as first proclaimed by Moses and the prophets and as exemplified and embodied in Christ’.
The lengthy letter makes no mention of the massacre of 1,400 Israelis by Hamas terrorists on Israeli soil on 7 October or of the 200 hostages still being held by Hamas.
Joseph Steinberg, CEO at International Mission to Jewish People (IMJP) and en columnist, said he was disappointed that: ‘as Christians, they had no comment on the only thing that could bring peace to the region. That is the gospel… the proclamation of the Prince of Peace’.
He added: ‘It had no hope in it. We need to bring the gospel to both peoples – all need to be saved. The church needs to prioritise mission to both Jew and Arab; Israeli and Palestinian, with faith and hope that the gospel has the power to change people’s lives’.
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Krish Kandiah, founder of the Sanctuary Foundation, has called for a Homes for Ukraine-type infrastructure to help provide temporary sanctuary to children and mothers displaced from Gaza. The organisation is collecting pledges from households willing to welcome Gazan mothers and children into their homes for 3–6 months if a safe route was provided. For more information, contact Krish via www.sanctuaryfoundation.org.uk
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