Who do you support in the current conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza? Misunderstanding and misinformation about this complicated subject abound. One’s position doesn’t necessarily align with the normal right-left dichotomy in US politics. If anything, the larger divide seems to be between the older generations who recognize the need for a Jewish state (and support its right to defend itself), and the younger generations who only see the poor state of Palestinians at the hands of Israel. Who is in the right?
If Christians truly believe in truth and goodness, then this is the wrong question. Picking sides inevitably places one in the position of ignoring, minimizing, or otherwise defending everything your side does, even if it includes killing innocent people. At the same time, if you choose sides, then there is the natural tendency to dehumanize the other side and ignore their point of view. Choosing sides tends to lead us away from truth and seeking solutions, and into simple tribalism. Christ calls us to a higher standard.
When it comes to war, almost always both sides commit acts of unnecessary violence. Whenever that happens, Christians should call that out, regardless of one’s loyalties. This is not to say that both sides are always equal. The wrongs that Ukraine’s forces have committed are nowhere near the rape, slaughter, and mass burials documented as war crimes committed by Russian forces. The murder of children by Hamas is NEVER allowed. But at the same time, neither can Israel cut off all supplies to Gaza for long before it becomes unjustifiable as well.
Absolute neutrality is not necessarily the goal. It’s OK to favor one side over another, as long as doing so doesn’t blind one to uncomfortable truths. Just as one can be patriotic and still acknowledge the many problems in the US, it is possible to generally support one side in a conflict, and at the same time care about the well-being of the other side.
It does great harm to the witness of the Church when its people seem blindly loyal to any outside group. We need to tread carefully here, especially in a situation that has as much history as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. There are no easy answers here. Humility, honesty, and compassion are what is called for. In focusing on exhibiting these qualities, we will protect the name Christian, and gain a better understanding of current events. The tendency is for everyone to pick sides these days, but perhaps that’s not what is needed.
