As a result of last weekend’s terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, Christian leaders around the globe are speaking up in support of Israel’s efforts to eradicate the terrorist operation in Gaza.
Saturday’s Hamas attack on a music festival and surrounding communities in Israel killed more than 1,300 people, including some Americans, prompting Israel to declare war and launch the current military retaliation.
Since Saturday’s attack, Christians worldwide have been speaking out in support of Israel, its Jewish citizens and their efforts to snuff out Hamas’ terror threat.
In the U.S., more than sixty Baptist and other Christian leaders have signed an “Evangelical Statement in Support of Israel,” in response to the horrific atrocities committed against the people of Israel by Hamas.
The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) released a statement declaring that it “stands unequivocally with the state of Israel after the recent, horrific terror attacks by Hamas. “NHCLC fully supports Israel’s right to self-defense” against the “unprecedented and barbaric” terrorist attack, the statement adds, urging the world community to pray for Israel.
In Germany, the Christian group Christen an der Seite Israels stated that “Germany has a moral obligation to support, not criticise, Israeli defence efforts.” The German Protestant Church (EKD) stands behind Israel, as well, offering its “thoughts and prayers.”
Amsterdam was one of the first cities to announce that it would raise the Israeli flag; Prime Minister Rutte followed with the announcement that he would order the same to be done at all government buildings.
In Norway, the Christian Council spoke out against terrorism. Likewise, in France, the National Council of Evangelicals of France (CNEF) expressed “its solidarity with the people of Israel.” The Council says Hamas should be condemned, because nothing can justify its heinous acts of violence and murder.
Editors at Denmark’s Christian newspaper Kristeligt Dagblad write that, not only is Hamas’ violence despicable, but inhabitants of the Gaza Strip will continue to suffer as long as they accept being ruled by a terrorist organization, like Hamas. Leaders of all Christian political parties in the Netherlands have expressed "total support" for Israel, as well.
And, on October 4, three days before the Hamas attack, a group of nearly a hundred Evangelical Christians marched in Jerusalem to show support for Israel during annual Feast of Tabernacles.
“From here in Rome, my heart goes out to the assaulted people of Israel, and to our Jewish community we cherish as friends and neighbors back home in New York, realizing with tears that their sabbath yesterday was anything but peaceful,” Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, said in a statement following the attack, calling Israel’s effort to defend itself “righteous”:
“A secure and safe home, surely intended by God for all His Children, wherever they may be. To have that home attacked is a sacrilege; to defend that home is righteous.”
Despite the rapes, murders, beheadings and other violence perpetrated by the unprovoked attack by Hamas, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which claims to provide a list of hate groups, but largely categorizes Christian beliefs as so-called “hate,” isn’t publicly adding radical organizations and student that are cheering Hamas to its “hate list,” Fox News reported Wednesday:
“The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a left-wing organization that tracks and labels so-called ‘hate groups’ across the country, is remaining silent on whether Black Lives Matter (BLM) and the Democratic Socialists of America's (DSA) actions following Hamas's deadly attack on Israelis raise 'hate' concerns.
“BLM Grassroots called the Iran-backed terrorist group's attacks ‘desperate acts of self-defense.’ The DSA promoted a New York City pro-Hamas rally and said the incursion was a ‘direct result of Israel's apartheid regime.’”