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.
frjamesdiluzio 
From a subscriber who wishes to remain anonymous: “If you get a chance, try to listen to the Palestinian U.N. Ambassador’s address from yesterday. His passion provides something of a balance to what we are hearing from U.S. news outlets.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-09/palestinian-ambassador-says-a-different-path-is-possible/102950466
Dear Rev. James Michael DiLuzio, what do you think about daily atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians of Islamic, Christian, Jewish, Druze…etc origins? How do you justify the land theft of indigenous Palestinians by Israeli settlers? Is it colonialism or do you have any other term for that? The behaviour of Hamas you saw yesterday, Palestinians have seen from IDF for the past 70 or more years. Do you call IDF also a terrorist organization? And lastly, IDF is frequently attacking churches and churchgoers in Jerusalem. They even attacked Palestinian American journalist Shirin Abu Akleh’s funeral Mass. Do you think Palestinian Christians deserve that treatment? From Ravi Tessera via FACEBOOK ; https://www.facebook.com/shikaruki.tissera/about_contact_and_basic_info
Thank you for writing, Ravi. I agree, no one deserves this treatment, and the Palestinian people are oppressed and abused by Israeli government, especially under the policies of Netanyahu. I still stand on the concept that the Palestinians would benefit much more from explicit, continuous peace demonstrations than it achieves from shooting missals at Israeli civilians. Granted, IDF’s treatment and the bulldozing of Palestinian homes in the West Bank are atrocious human rights’ violations, with no recourse for the victims. Indeed, the Israeli governments’ policy to treat every Palestinian as a terrorist is a grave violation of human dignity, but it seems to me, that having elected Hamas as its leadership, the people erred as to the best way to negotiate. Violence only breeds violence. Please know, as a person who advocates non-violence, and even as an American, I do not think that the American Revolution in 1776 was necessary in terms of War. I assess that independence could have been achieved here in many other ways, as it did for Canada. So, indeed, that is the perspective I am bringing. As a result, I do not see Hamas as a proper representative of the Palestinian people. I never have. But my compassion for the Palestinians is great and I am so sorry that now Israel, once again, confirms its identify as victim rather than mutual sinner in a quagmire of hate. Tell me more about yourself, Ravi. Are you here in the USA? Are you in a faith tradition? Would you like to be part of my Online Ecumenical and Multi-Faith dialogue?