Monday, December 11, 2023

As the nightmare continues to unfold for our human family members in Gaza while the whole world is watching, some of our Biblical experts and preachers of “the Word” may be enlightening their congregations about all the “signs of the times” described in the book of Revelation and others in the Holy Bible. “There will be wars and rumours of wars.” It’s all there in the Bible, they say, so just let it be until the Messiah returns in all His glory to pass judgement on the wicked and save the righteous and bring peace on earth, etc. etc. There is an explanation for everything, it seems; and our expert pastors and preachers can always find a passage to quote from to explain and justify their positions on the current ongoing human tragedy. But we strongly suspect that the one whose birth we all are about to celebrate on Christmas Day, if He would appear today, would not be condoning the calculated daily “murderation” of innocent children, which the Biblical Pharisees may have justified by their old law of “an eye for an eye”.

Righteous rage burns in every man/woman’s heart when we have suffered great pain and injustice, and self-defense is an irrepressible instinct of nature/survival in all living things.

The whole world condemns the terrible atrocities perpetrated on innocent Israeli civilians on October 7 by the evil terrorists called Hamas.

But what’s done cannot be undone, and His message to us was that, “Vengeance is Mine, saith the Lord.” The New Testament was all about the way of peace, for Jews and Gentiles alike.

In seeking vengeance, and trying to eliminate Hamas terrorists from planet earth, the Israeli government has executed a death sentence, and continues doing so daily upon the Palestinian people. Two wrongs do not make a right, and the wrong of Hamas has been multiplied ten times over, and counting by the military forces of the nation called Israel in 2023.

There are two old and wise sayings that my grandfather often reminded the younger family members of, and he was not a church-going “Sunday Christian”. And we would invite our religious folk who are captivated by the Biblical story of the “Promised Land” and the “nation of Israel” to ponder the following: “Anger glances on the heart of a wise man, but rests in the bosom of a fool;” and “There is nothing that promises so much, and pays so little as revenge.”

How can you professed people of God sing the beautiful hymns of Christmas in church, and still find it in your hearts to accommodate the continued daily killing of families and children in the name of “self-defense”? Heaven help us!

If there is a suspected serial-murderer-rapist on the loose, and authorities have intelligence that he is hiding out somewhere on George Street, will the police just come blazing and shooting everybody who lives in that area, and bulldozing all the homes, just to try and eliminate the killer in their midst, and those who they may suspect have been giving him shelter?

This is the time of year when Christians celebrate the birth of the Christ child in a manger in Bethlehem. But for the people in Gaza, every day for the past two months it has been a continuing nightmare of death and destruction. In the name of justice and self-defense and revenge, shall we continue to support this ongoing crucifixion?

We have been misled by dogma and misinformation. From the pulpits and the pews, we must ask God for forgiveness for our mistake in this Christmas season.

This is not a war, or a fair fight that is taking place in Gaza; it is plain and simple genocide of historic proportions.

There must be a better way in 2023. “Pray for peace, people everywhere!”

Below we use our editorial platform to share some excerpts from the U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s remarks to the Security Council in New York on Friday, December 8, 2023:

Mr. President, Excellencies,

I wrote to the Security Council invoking Article 99 because we are at a breaking point.

There is a high risk of the total collapse of the humanitarian support system in Gaza, which would have devastating consequences…

I fear the consequences could be devastating for the security of the entire region…

The threat to the safety and security of United Nations staff in Gaza is unprecedented.

More than 130 of my colleagues have already been killed, many with their families.

This is the largest single loss of life in the history of our Organization.

Some of our staff take their children to work so they know they will live or die together…

The conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist…

Mr. President,

All this takes place amid a spiraling humanitarian nightmare…

First, there is no effective protection of civilians.

More than 17,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since the start of Israel’s military operations. This includes more than 4,000 women and 7,000 children. Tens of thousands are reported to have been injured, and many are missing, presumably under the rubble.

All these numbers are increasing by the day.

Attacks from air, land and sea are intense, continuous and widespread. So far, they have reportedly hit 339 education facilities, 26 hospitals, 56 healthcare facilities, 88 mosques and three churches…

At least 88 UNRWA shelters have been hit, killing over 270 people and injuring over 900…

Mr. President,

Second, Gazans are running out of food.

According to the World Food Programme, there is a serious risk of starvation and famine…

In the north, nine out of ten people have spent at least one full day and night without food…

Mr. President,

Third, Gaza’s health system is collapsing while needs are escalating.

At least 286 health workers have been killed.

Hospitals have suffered heavy bombardment. Just 14 out of 36 are still functioning. Of these, three are providing basic first aid, while the others are delivering partial services.

The European Gaza Hospital, one of the two main hospitals in southern Gaza, has 370 beds. It is currently housing 1,000 patients and an estimated 70,000 people seeking shelter…

As patients with life-threatening injuries continue to arrive, wards are overflowing and staff are overwhelmed.

At the same time, the unsanitary conditions in shelters and severe shortages of food and water are leading to increases in respiratory infections, scabies, jaundice and diarrhea.

Everything I have just described represents an unprecedented situation that led to my unprecedented decision to invoke Article 99, urging the members of the Security Council to press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe, and appealing for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared.

Mr. President,

We are all aware that Israel began its military operation in response to the brutal terror attacks unleashed by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on 7 October.

I unreservedly condemn those attacks. I am appalled by the reports of sexual violence.

There is no possible justification for deliberately killing some 1,200 people, including 33 children, injuring thousands more, and taking hundreds of hostages…

At the same time, the brutality perpetrated by Hamas can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

And while indiscriminate rocket fire by Hamas into Israel, and the use of civilians as human shields, are in contravention of the laws of war, such conduct does not absolve Israel of its own violations…

Mr. President,

The people of Gaza are looking into the abyss.

The international community must do everything possible to end their ordeal.

I urge the Council to spare no effort to push for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, for the protection of civilians, and for the urgent delivery of lifesaving aid…

The eyes of the world – and the eyes of history – are watching.

It’s time to act.

Thank you.

(AMANDALA Ed. Note: In a vote by the 15-member U.N. Security Council for an immediate ceasefire, 13 nations voted for, one abstained, and one, the USA, voted against the ceasefire. The veto power of the USA overrode the 13 votes in favor, and the daily bombardment continues.)