Rev. James M. DiLuzio CSP

9 October 2023 and REVISED 10 October due to recent events

 On October 9th, I began my post with Prayers for the Jewish People and the Nation of Israel. Hamas’ attack is not only anti-Israel, it evidences true hatred for the Jewish people. I now must call for prayers for all the innocent Palestinian civilians, including so many children and infants, killed by what I believe is Israel’s inordinate revenge. You will note in my post (see below) that I hoped the Israeli government would be far more moderate in its response to terrorism than the USA was in response to 9/11. That has not happened, and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to cut off all water and electricity to the entire Gaza region is a humanitarian crisis in itself.

I still hold to my belief that it remains a tragedy that Gaza did not build its own infrastructure and free its dependence on Israel in much the same way our nation’s states maintain independent infrastructure apart from federal interstate issues. How much the Israeli government and how much Gaza governing bodies are responsible for that crisis, is too complicated to go into here. With that stated, here’s my original post, with some revisions. .

I’ve been thinking a lot about this and here’s what I have to say: The Horrors of Hamas and a Possible Solution Rev. James M. DiLuzio CSP 10 October 2023 REVISED TYPE IN BOLD

The tragedy of Humas and its attack on Israel, over 900 dead at the latest count this morning, makes it evident that Hamas is a terrorist organization. Aligned with hate for Israel along with its confreres in Iran.* Hamas and its counterparts have confirmed that they have a devastating hatred for the Jewish people as a whole –Racism and its violent expressions are among the world’s greatest sins.

Hamas’ leaders, and those who support them from other nations, need to be arrested and brought before an International Tribunal and tried for war crimes, and crimes against humanity. This is what the US should have done after 9/11. Yes, it was fitting that we went into Afghanistan in search of Taliban organizers, but the escalation of bombing there and the subsequent invasion of Iraq proved unwarranted. How much Afghanistan was willing to help identify the perpetrators is not widely known. Still, Hundreds of thousands if not a million or more people died as a result, and US tactics proved immoral in my estimation. With that in mind, Israel and its allies need to respond to the attacks, but I pray, they will do so with caution and restraint, to protect the hostages, and innocent civilians.

In brief, it seems right and just that Israel should use its military power to identify and arrest all responsible for the deaths of civilians, the hostage crisis, and other atrocities, but Israel should learn from our mistakes. Hopefully, perpetrators will soon be arrested, and then the government should bring them before the World Court as an example of what comprises true justice and honesty in human relations. Yes, Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank have legitimate reasons to protest the Israeli government, but now is the time for them to organize peaceful demonstrations, marches, and offer humane steps for compromise and collaboration. Furthermore, it is time Palestinians elect leaders with a deeper sense of humanity, people who can propose policies that offer stability, dignity, and reverence for all.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_casualties_in_the_war_in_Afghanistan_(2001–2021)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Iraq_War

Here’s a little more insight to the bigger picture:

The crimes of Hamas over the decades go even beyond Hamas’ violence, exposing the roots of its loss of humanity. As Thomas Friedman wrote in the NYTIMES (October 7: “Israel’s Worst Day at War”):

“Hamas has been a deadly curse for the Palestinian people since it took over Gaza in 2007. The billion-plus dollars in aid that it received from Qatar alone over the years could have gone into building Gaza into a productive society, with decent schools, universities, and infrastructure, that might have been a model for a future Palestinian state with the West Bank. Instead, Hamas has devoted most of its energies and resources to digging tunnels into Israel and building rockets to try to destroy a vastly more powerful enemy — thus depriving Gazans of any chance to realize their full potential, via a government that is decent, democratic, and productive.”

* Note: In my first version, I added Qatar to Iran as another nation supporting Hamas. I’ve deleted Qatar in this context due to this statement in the Washington Post at 11 am, 10 October 2023: ” Qatar works with Hamas to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians in the Gaza Strip, but it does not directly support the group.”

PS: I am posting this opinion on my FACEBOOK Page as well. If you prefer to dialogue there go to LUKELIVE on Facebook. Otherwise, I welcome comments below. Note that a couple have come in already and are worth your consideration.