Overview:

A military group known as Hamas located in the Gaza Strip initiated an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. They took women and children as captives while killing at least 1,400 Israelis and injuring more than 4,121. 

On that same day, Israel declared war on Hamas. Israel sent airstrikes that have killed 2,778 people in Gaza so far wounding more than 9,900 others and Israel is currently planning a land invasion after sieging the Gaza Strip. 

Brief History: 

The Israelis and Palestinians have been disputing over the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. This has led to violence and previous armed conflict that normally resolves to some sort of peace. 

Israel was established in 1948, 39 years before Hamas was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Hamas overthrew the Palestinian government in the Gaza Strip in 2007 with the aim of replacing Israel with a Palestinian state.

What could happen next?

The war between Hamas and Israel could bring in neighboring countries and organizations that could grow the war.

There are rising humanitarian crisis concerns for the general population of the Gaza Strip that only worsen with the Israeli siege on the territory.

There are also concerns about what would replace Hamas as the Palestine government in the Gaza Strip. This also could cause further violence within the state.

Insight:

Many in the Carmel Community have had the privilege of having Mr. Rock Schulz as their middle school Bible teacher. The Blue and Gold took the time to interview him to offer more insight into the conflict from within the Carmel community. 

Schulz speaks on the historical and biblical context of the tensions between the Palestinian and Israeli leaders.  

“So Israel actually goes back over 4,000 years. It’s not that Israel got started in 1948. Israel got started in 2000 BC. Israel was reborn in 1948…fulfilling the prophecy that God said that He would bring the people back” Schulz says, “So what’s happening now with terrorists is they are cursing Israel. They are cursing God. And those who don’t turn to God are going to experience the curse of God.”

Schulz continues on to share his opinions on how God views the people involved. 

Schulz says, “From what I understand in the Bible, it’s not that God loves the Israelis or the Jews more than the Palestinians he doesn’t. But he made a promise with Abraham, a covenant that God keeps unlike humans, God keeps His promises. There are many Palestinians who are believers. There are many Palestinians who hate what their countrymen, the terrorists, are doing. They hate it.” 

Schulz expands on the Christian populations in these countries: 

“Iran has one of the fastest-growing Christian populations in the world. China has the fastest growing Christian population,” Schulz says, ”So [when] we hear about these evil countries we have to be careful not to think that all the people there are evil, like the Palestinians. The vast majority of them are peace-loving, good-hearted people. Many are Christians and they hate this. But, you know, these bad apples make everybody look bad.”

Schulz shares his opinions on how and why Christians should approach this conflict. 

Schulz says, “I don’t have to agree with everything Israel does. Israel has created many of their own problems by being disobedient to God, they’re humans just like America. But because God made a covenant, a promise with Israel, those of us who are in Christ are to respect the covenant that God made.”