Citizens in Gaza are all suffering from food shortages, lack of medical care, power outages and a long list of other problems, but a church leader living amid the turmoil says the children are the greatest sufferers of the Gaza-Israel conflict.
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(Photo: AP Images / Muhammed Muheisen)Palestinian children take part in a protest against Israel's military operation in Gaza, in the West Bank village of Nilin, near Modin, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.
“Everybody suffers, but I feel especially bad for the children who are going through a very tough time,” said a Christian church leader to Open Doors USA about the situation in Gaza.
Open Doors is a ministry that supports and works with persecuted churches in areas hostile to Christianity.
“The children wake up several times in the middle of the night; crying or even screaming from fear and memories that come back to their minds,” the church leader, whose name was not released by the ministry, shared.
Children are living in homes where rockets are landing right outside their doors, he noted.
“Many children are traumatized because of previous situations in Gaza,” he said. “They have seen bodies lying on the streets that used to be their playground. Now it is all happening again.”
The Gaza-Israel conflict is in its 12th day with Israel considering to escalate its assault on Gaza by moving its forces deeper into the country and ultimately ending the rocket attacks on Israel, according to Reuters.
During two weeks time, more than 600 Palestinians have died with more than a quarter of those killed being civilians, according to U.N. figures. The current Gaza-Israel fighting is the worst violence the Middle East has seen in decades.
International leaders and bodies have called on Israel to stop its offensive, but the country’s military has continued its attacks.
Many Christian groups have called for a cease-fire, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
ELCA’s presiding bishop the Rev. Mark S. Hanson called on the U.S. government to take a more active role in stopping the conflict on Monday during a news conference in Jordan.
A group of Lutheran leaders are visiting the Middle East for a week-long series of meetings with religious, political and community leaders in Israel and the West Bank in spite of the outbreak in violence.
Hanson called for Israel to remove its troops from Gaza and for Hamas to stop the rocket attacks on civilians in Israel. He also said negotiations must restart for “permanent peace with justice and a two-state solution.”
On Wednesday, both Israel and Hamas agreed to a temporary three-hour pause in fighting to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip.
The humanitarian corridor will let in food and fuel to be distributed to Palestinians.
An estimated 2,500 Christians remain in Gaza and have difficulties leaving the Strip.
The Gaza church leaders commented, “Those in Gaza sometimes have no idea what is going on. Very often the power is down so they have no radio, television or Internet. People call their friends and family outside Gaza to stay updated about the situation in their own city.”
Open Doors USA president/CEO Carl Moeller asks Christians in the West to pray for those in Gaza living amid bombings and ground surge.
“Pray that the war between Israel and Palestine is shorter and less devastating than what military and political speculators around the world are predicting,” Moeller urged. “Pray that Christian families will be reunited. Pray that the Gaza Baptist Church building will be spared more damage from the assault. Pray for all the victims of the violence in Gaza and Israel.”
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Johnzon, thank you for writing back.
Yes, I was an atheist and irreligious before. But I started to really read the Holy Bible and started to pray every day.
The Holy Spirit of Lord Jesus opens up hearts and minds, and not pressure from peers or other peoples.
My wife got a lot to do with that and I thank God for her. I wish you well on your search and I hope you find what you are looking for.
From Indonesia. God bless you and all your loved ones.
In Christ always.
aritonang, My point is most believe their religion/beliefs to be superior to all others. You obviously believe yours to be superior. That's fine, as long as it does not lead to harm to others that have different beliefs which can be a problem among the different religious faiths. Since you ask, I do not practice a particular religion.
Back to the subject again,
I see that no apparent action is taken by the world wide Christians to help the little community of Christians in Gaza. Their number is dwindling down everyday. Their children are exposed to the violence on daily basis. Anybody see the red crescent and humanitarian help reaching this brothers and sisters in Gaza?
johnzon,
What is this religion you keep on writing about? I see that you label people. It is not good to label people. A lot of my friends are Muslims, Budhist and Hindus. I do not label them as kaffir and attack them. Unlike the atheist and irreligious in London, who labels people and give them hard time. I have faith but I do not use the term religion. Now, tell me yours and stop hiding between rethorics
When I wrote that I do note believe whatever that is written thru the internet including the ones written in your website. I do not know the people who writes in that site but as long as it please you go right ahead and you write over there.
Why do I even care what is their aim and logic. I don't know them. But I know my Lord Jesus Christ and I follow Him.
This is Faith, as in Faith, Hope and Love.
aritonang
<<And I do not believe the internet's perseption on any of the Church leaders comments and what have you.>>
what?? You lost me on that one.
aritonang, You are free to believe in what ever you want just as others are in their religions. You believe yours to be correct, others believe theirs to be correct. Thats what religion is about. Its called religious faith not religious fact for a reason.
steiner,
the way out is simple but all of our eyes are closed and peace are hidden, as we read in Luke 19:40-42
The way to peace is open when everybody accept Jesus in their heart and let the Holy Spirit of our risen Lord work and produces good fruit.
That includes all Muslims and Jews everywhere
johnzon,
I for one do not see that European Church leaders as anybody who can tell people what to do and dictate others. For instance nobody here knows or care what one of the American megachurch leaders are saying and doing.
And I do not believe the internet's perseption on any of the Church leaders comments and what have you.
We follow the risen Jesus as our Lord and read from the Holy Bible. Our day jobs take most of our time and we dedicate the most important time to read Holy Bible.
Let's say some of the Christians nowadays say that there are ways to our Heavenly Father other our Lord Jesus.
I do not believe that because I read John 14:6
Simple as that.
prophet,
//You apparently don't see any difference. Sad, really.//
where did I write that I do not see any different?
The difference is enormous. We do not see Christians issuing death warrants to Christian basher anywhere, do we ?
Here is a proper solution to the Israeli/Palestinian problem. We do not need 3 palestinian states(Gaza, West Bank and Jordan)
Deport all Palestinians to Jordan. Support Jordan economically with the funds Palestinians are normally given by the UN but are used to build tunnels and purchase arms instead.
The Palestinians will be no strangers in Jordan, their own land, with their own Palestinian Princess and with U.N. money to support them for the next ten years.
Donations for Christians living in Gaza should be used to relocate them to another country.
aritonang
<<Muslims spreading hate against Christians.>>
I'm sure thats the case, religions villify other religions. There is a tendency for one to believe their religion and beliefs to be correct, all others in error.
<<Christians giving love to the Jews as per God's supervision in Genesis>>
Centuries of anti-semitism by Chrisitians are well documented. Study the anti-semitic writings of Martin Luther as an example. The Catholic church too has a long history of anti-semitism. Without virulent anti-semitism in Europe, the Holocaust would not have occured.
aritonang,
And yet you do not address the EXTREME hatred that the Muslims have for everyone who isn't Muslim. True Christians don't HATE Muslims. We speak out against their terrorism.
A cartoon comes out that makes fun of Palin's faith in God. Christians write in and protest and speak their minds. That's it.
A cartoon comes out that makes fun of Islam. A death warrant is put out for that person who drew the cartoon and they have to go into hiding.
You apparently don't see any difference. Sad, really.
//aritonang, I am not writing hate against Christians. I'm am however pointing out a long history of anti-semitism among Chrisitians which made the Halocaust possible. Today, I see a lot of hateful rantings against Muslims by Christians. Please tell me how I am wrong on these two points.//
I do not agree on your two points at all.
I live in Indonesia and the way I see it, it is the other way around.
(1) Muslims spreading hate against Christians. I live just a distance away from 3 madrassa and understand Arabic. I know the aim of Hizbut Tahrir and Moslem Brotherhood is not very friendly and their ways are not limited to hate speech and rantings. Do you hear what is being said and projected outside the US especially in Islam world?
(2) Christians giving love to the Jews as per God's supervision in Genesis. By the way, when you write "Christian in Europe" do you relate to Nazi's pagan believe and Nordic pride? Because the way I see it most people there is not even attending Church let alone double checking their choices to the Word of God. Hitler is not even a Christian. But Stalin is a practising atheist and irreligious.
Prophet
<<there were Jews in the Middle East prior to New Testament era.>>
Agreed
johnzon,
I see nowhere where you said that there were Jews in the Middle East prior to New Testament era. You said "Jews had been trickling into the ME due to pogroms and oppression by the Christians of Europe for a very long time." That was a long time after the Jews were originally in the Middle east.
Prophet, I agree with you that there have been Jews in ME, I think thats what I said.
aritonang, I am not writing hate against Christians. I'm am however pointing out a long history of anti-semitism among Chrisitians which made the Halocaust possible. Today, I see a lot of hateful rantings against Muslims by Christians. Please tell me how I am wrong on these two points.
Israel have issued a formal complain to Indonesia regarding the violent reaction by the Indonesian media in general, specifically the ones related to PKS and Hizbut Tahrir who are opening recruits for new jihadist.
Today the total casualty is 763 dead from the Palestinian side and more dead Palestinian babies are shown again and again in TVs and other media, raising anger.
I think the IDF should rally and expedite their job to completion. They are doing what they can to prolong it before ceasefire.
johnzon, you are writing hate speech against Christians. why? The other posting has pointed out good argument against your opinion which have got none in relation to what is happening in Gaza. Is that how all humanist behave towards people who have different faith with them?
johnzon,
Actually, the Jews have been in the Middle East (Israel to be exact) since the time of Abraham. That's a little further back than WWII.
Believer
<<what revisionist history book are you reading. There have always been Jews in the Middle East>>
I didn't state there were no Jews in the ME, of course there were. Jews had been trickling into the ME due to pogroms and oppression by the Christians of Europe for a very long time. However, in the aftermath of mass extermination of the Jews in Europe, they went to the ME in mass after WWII. In the process, they displaced thousands of Arabs from their homes. Both the Jews and the Arabs are really victims of anti-semitism by the Christians of Europe that eventually led to the exodus of the Jews from Europe to the ME. Both Protestants (read Martin Luther's anti-Semitic rants) and Catholics bear much responsibility for the Holocaust due to their vilification of the Jews over the centuries. Today Christian's have found another group to vilify- Muslims. I hope what the Christians did to the Jews in Europe does not repeat with Muslims- genocide. After WWII, instead of taking land from the Arabs, they should have carved a Jewish homeland out of a part of Europe. The peoples of the ME have been victimized by the West for too long now.
The process for the formation of Israel in 1948 was seriously flawed, now both the Jews and Arabs are paying the price for Western meddling and incompetence. Secretary of State, General George Marshall warned President Truman that if the formation of Israel was rushed and forced Arabs off their land without compensation and suitable agreements, there would never be peace. He was certainly correct about that.
pvlman,
Don't forget that Israel continues to send out leaflets and phone calls to the population of Gaza to warn them of where their next attack is going to happen so that the civilians and leave the area. And don't forget the interview with the Israeli pilot who aborted a bombing sortee at the request of his superiors because of civilian presence. And what kind of warning do the Hamas give the Israelis? The nano second between the rocket exploding and their bodies being ripped apart.
pvlman,
Speaking of which. What would you suggest America should do if Canada was lobbing rockets into our country, killing our people? Just sit back and take it?
Maybe we can lob one missile back for every one they send? That seems fair. I mean, if they shot a missile at us, then they are one short, so let's be neighborly and give them one of ours. We can just continue terrorizing each other's population until the end of time.
I'm glad you weren't alive during WWII. You probably would have thought that our response to Germany was waaaaaaay overkill.
pvlman
Don't forget the truce that only Israel upheld, where Hamas continued to lob rockets and such into Israel on occasion. And then when the truce was over, Israel was fine keeping things as they were, but Hamas thought it would be nice to intensify their terrorism. And Israel took it in order hopefully promote peace. But Hamas doesn't want peace. It's not in retaliation for any "previous provocation". Hamas (as well as Iran and much of the muslim world) wants Israel completely destroyed. It's that simple. As one reporter put it, this is Iran's proxy war with Israel. Iran won't attack Israel outright, but they supply Hamas with all their weaponry, training, and even built their underground network for them so they could smuggle arms in. It's not about "who did what first". It's about the total annihilation of the nation of Israel.
I understand it's easier to remain ignorant of current events and history. Hamas rocket attacks where in retaliation of Israel's long ongoing terrorizing of the Palestinians. Israel was the first aggressor in this 60 year old conflict, why do people forget that? Do they believe 2 wrongs make a right? Has is doing nothing most Americans would do to a force that occupied their country. Israel's latest action has went way beyond an eye for an eye.
can anyone say "propaganda"?
artm, i agree. where was the outcry when israeli children were being terrorized on a daily basis? and it looks like america is israel's only ally in this whole thing. the rest of the world (including much of europe) are the pawns of islam.
"Everything that can be done to help the Children in Gaza, A Major part of that help is to get Hamas to stop Bombing the Children in Israel.
When that stops, Then the Children in Israel and Gaza will be able to sleep in peace. "
Enough said!
johnzon, what revisionist history book are you reading. There have always been Jews in the Middle East, specifically present day Israel and as a matter of fact the British did there best to keep the Jews from Europe from coming into Palestine prior to Israel becoming a nation in 1948. Plus, there are still many Jews living in European countries today. And having visited the Holy Land in the mid 80s I met a number of Jews who left Europe after WWII to come to Israel and not once did I hear them say they were forced to come.
The picture of the Palestinian Children will certainly break your heart, I just wish they had posted a picture of Jewish Children who wake up in the middle of the night screeming because of Rockets fired by Hamas.
John, You should find another Source for your History of Christanity, and the jewish state of Israel.
The jewish people are where they are because " God " put them there. Israel will never be Divided, and " God have mercy on those who try to do it."
johnzon,
today our brothers and sisters in Gaza is mourning the loss of another brother to this war, a Palestinian Christian just 22 years old named Wasseb.
How is your opinion related to this issue?
johnzon// Don't worry. While it is true that many Christians are resentful about the Muslim teachings that foster and justify terrorism, we are not killing Muslims just because they are Muslims; unlike many Muslims who are killing many innocent Christians just because we are Christians.
The Christian's of Europe vilified the Jewish people of Europe for centuries, Martin Luther's anti-semitic writing were used by the Nazi's to help in their quest to exterminate European Jewry. Today many Christian's vilify all members of the Muslim faith, let's hope this does not lead to genocide against Muslims in the same way the Holocaust led to the extermination of the Jewish people of Europe. Its very sad to read the hate I see on this web site by some, directed to members of the Muslim faith.
It's amazing that hatred of the Jews has lasted nearly 75 years since the fall of Nazi Germany, as evidenced even by some who have implanted themselves on this Christian blog even though they despise our worldview.
I agree brother halver,
May the Spirit of the Lord opens hearts and minds for ways to achieve lasting peace. God bless you and your family
Remember that those who bless Israel shall be blessed, and those who curse Israel shall be cursed.
So how do we know?
For them who have ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
The formation of a Jewish homeland should never have been allowed to occurr in the Middle East. Land was taken from the Arabs after the extermination of European Jewry by the Christians of Europe. Why should the Palestinians have to pay for the crimes committed upon the Jews by Europeans? A Jewish homeland should have been craved out of Europe where the crimes against Jewish humanity occurred. All we have now is endless bloodshed of both Jews and Palestinians. With the support of the US military-industrial complex, the formerly oppressed Jewish people have now become the oppressors.
Its now Thursday at dawn 3.30am in Gaza, January 8th and the IDF got 72 hours to finish all their task before the ceasefire forecasted sets in.
They have bagged around 120 Hamas terrorist marked for interogation and have several more Hamasmen to be forcefully picked up at their homes or mosque hideaway.
And measures are already taken to destroy and mine the underground tunnel connecting Gaza's southern border at Rafah to the Egyptian Sinai dessert. Plus Israil needs to monitor the activities of the Moslem brotherhood in Cairo and Hezballah in Lebanon and Damascus
Considering that operation Cast Lead (distribute bullets) have gone for 2 weeks, its going well apart from a fatal friendly fire and the idiotic blast of the UN school for Palestinian children at Jebaliya murdering 48 childrens. This is truly a big error from IDF. Even when Hamas are hiding there and firing AKs and Metis, the paratroops just have to avoid it and not tasking their Merkava to return fire.
Hopefully the operation can be completed in the mentioned time frame as we shall enter into the ceasefire.
Hopefully there shall be no more children among the near 700 dead and 3000 injured Palestinians. And the 2500 Christians can restart their lives and business once again, after the extermination of Hamas.
War is a terrible thing. Hamas are using women and children as human shields to carry out their terrorist activities. To them children are collateral damage. Most of the TV news footage of the events are staged by the Hamas propaganda machine and the western media are falling all over themselves to paint Israel in a black light.
Living with Rockets
By Anav Silverman
The Sderot Media Center | Tuesday, January 06, 2009
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=78BB54C5-6B49-40A6-94A9-04A72222F7F5
"There has been a war of terror on Sderot from more than eight years now. During this time period, an estimated 8,000-10,000 Palestinian rockets have been fired at Sderot and the western Negev from the Gaza Strip. There was not one serious long-term military response from Israel to the rocket attacks during that time besides the closing of crossings and checkpoints.
In the meantime, hundreds of Israelis homes and properties have been destroyed, over 700 Israelis wounded, and thousands psychologically traumatized by Palestinian rocket fire. Periodically, schools in Sderot and the western Negev have been forced to close, as normal life cruelly transforms into a marathon of 15 seconds, (the number of seconds one has to escape to shelter when the Tzeva Adom, or Red Color alert is set off by an impending Palestinian rocket).
Sderot and western Negev residents have been forced to sit and endure Palestinian rocket terror to the point that there is now a generation of eight year old Sderot children who are showing signs of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as early as age three."
Continued in the above link.
If Hamas lays down their weapons, then there will be peace and the children of Gaza will be safe and secure. If Israel lays down her weapons, there will be no more Israel, and the children of Israel will become the next victims of genocide.
While I totally agree that ALL the people of Gaza (with the exception of the Hamas terrorists who hide among the civilian population and daily use them a human shields) need to live in peace and security, I would like to ask a question or two:
1) Where were the so-called concerned reps from Open Doors for the last years as the children of Sderot learned to live in daily fear EVERY day that they might be killed by missiles fired from the Gaza Strip?
2) Where were the reps from ECLA and other anti-Israel denominations of their ilk while this assault on a peace-longing people was going on?
3) Why does the UN regularly allow its property in Gaza to be used as launching sites for Hamas missile attacks?
I wish the people of Gaza had the courage to complain to their "government" - but as recent news has shown, those who show less than total loyalty to these evil men are shot on the spot.
Sadly, what we may be witnessing is the inevitable results of Genesis 12:1-3 coming into effect with stark reality - that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has entered into judgment with the inhabitants of Gaza and they are reaping the "reward" of their anti-Semitic hatred of their Jewish neighbours.
Everything that can be done to help the Children in Gaza, A Major part of that help is to get Hamas to stop Bombing the Children in Israel.
When that stops, Then the Children in Israel and Gaza will be able to sleep in peace.
Yes, it's a genuine shame what Hamas has done to terrorize not only its neighbor (Israel) but also the citizens living within its borders. The citizens of Gaza should complain to the government of Gaza (Hamas), and call on them to cease its terrorist attacks on Israel.
Then, and only then, will the children of Gaza will be able to sleep comfortably.