Isaiah Was Right about the Israeli-Hamas Conflict

With regard to the current conflict between the Hamas-led government of Gaza and the Israelis, a verse from Isaiah came quickly to mind.  Isaiah writes: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter" (Isaiah 5:20).  Isaiah is writing about a time when values were upside-down.  People were confused as to what right and wrong really were.  Now you are going to ask me, "How does this verse relate to the present situation between Hamas and Israel?"  The answer is pretty obvious when one looks at how the world views this situation.

First, who is viewed by the world as being the aggressor?  Who is viewed by the world as being the victims?  The answer to the first question in the eyes of the world is obviously Israel.  They are the big "bully" in the Middle East.  They are the ones throwing their weight around.  That is how the world sees Israel.  And, just who is the victim?  It is the poor, innocent civilians living in Gaza.  Last night, on the NBC Nightly News, two reports were shared from the conflict.  In the first report, only short images were shared of the fear as Israeli's headed to bomb shelters, but the majority of that first report showed the damage Israeli planes had inflicted upon Gaza, including a family whose home had been destroyed.  I thought to myself, I wonder what the second report would be like.  It was a reporter inside Gaza who was in a local hospital.  The images were of crying children, weeping mothers, distraught, over-worked doctors.  Upon whom did these people place the blame for their troubles?  Was it upon their own government, Hamas, who actually fired the first 150 rockets into Israel before the Israeli planes were sent skyward on their missions?  Of course not!  Over and over the world saw that it was all Israel's fault.  Then I opened the pages of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune this morning and two images of the conflict were in the article: a very small picture showing Israeli's rushing toward bomb-shelters, and a much larger picture of a woman in grief in Gaza.  Which image do you think the editors of this newspaper wanted its readers to remember? 

Let's look at what has happened so far in the eight days this conflict has been raging.  The radical Islamists have fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, some reaching as far north as Haifa, with many hitting portions of Tel Aviv and few even to Jerusalem.  Damage, so far, has been light with only one Israeli killed.  Why the lack of casualties?  It is because of two factors.  First, Israel has deployed its Iron Dome anti-missile defense system which has been 87% accurate in destroying enemy rockets before they can reach their intended targets.  Second, Israel has created a massive system of bomb-shelters where its civilians can flee when the sirens are sounded.  This, too, has saved many lives.  For the government of Israel, it uses its rockets to save lives, and it has invested millions of dollars in order to offer this protection.  I heard that each Iron Dome missile that is fired costs the Israeli government $50,000 - but they consider that a small price to pay to protect its citizens - both Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs. 

Israeli planes have conducted over a thousand sorties over Gaza, targeting rocket-launching sites, warehouses where rockets are stored, and locations where Hamas leaders live and work.  Yes, sadly there have been nearly 200 civilian casualties.  Why such a high casualty count?  The Hamas-led government has built no system of bomb-shelters for its people.  In fact, they have encouraged people to house rockets in their homes.  It is a known fact that Hamas has placed its rockets on the tops of schools, hospitals, nursing homes, etc., in the hopes that more civilians will be killed.  Those images of bodies make great public relations news for them.  The world sees those images and the blame is placed upon Israel. 

Let's see: Hamas began this conflict with the intent that their rockets, aimed at Israel's population centers, would create damage and casualties.  They were the aggressors.  Israel responded, after weeks of patience, with air strikes aimed at destroying those missiles.  The world sees them as being the aggressors, the Palestinians as being the tragic victims.  Isaiah was right: good is evil and evil is good.

Then this morning I was reading a headline story from IsraelInternationalNews.com.  Headlines; "Terrorists Offer 10-year Truce."  "Palestinian Arab sources reported Wednesday that Hamas and Islamic Jihad have drafted a ceasefire offer that would involve a 10-year truce with Israel."  The article lists the terms Israel must meet if this truce is to become a reality.  The list includes the following: 1) all crossings into Gaza opened; 2) an international airport to be opened in Gaza; 3) the Rafah (the crossing between Gaza and Egypt) to be opened up to international traffic, with UN supervision and international observers along the borders; 4) withdrawal of IDF tanks from areas they entered in Operation Protective Edge; 5) a complete removal of the blockade on Gaza; 6) an international sea port; 7) no more flights by Israeli aircraft over Palestinian territory; 8) an expansion of the fishing zone to 10 km from the shoreline; 9) Israel to release all terror prisoners who were freed in the Shalit deal and re-arrested in Operation Brother's Keeper (Israel's round-up of Hamas suspects after the deaths of the three Jewish teenagers); and 10) Israel will not interfere with the activity of the Palestinian unity government.  Friends, as I read this list I thought to myself: This would be like Germany wanting the Allies to make concessions after World War II.  In the minds of the leaders of Hamas, they have won this conflict.  And why do they think they have won?  It is because they know the world's sympathies lie with them because of the images and stories coming out of Gaza. 

Friends, I am tired of the one-sided reporting Americans and the world are getting.  I have neither heard a news story on any of the major television news services, nor read a report from any of the print media describing how Israeli trucks are daily bringing food and medical supplies into Gaza.  There is little reporting of how Israeli planes drop leaflets over entire communities strongly urging citizens to leave before an airstrike happens.  It is time the whole story is told. 

What should the government of Israel do?  I am not sure I have an answer.  My mind tells me that they should enter into Gaza and wipe out the leadership and the infrastructure that has allowed the rockets to be fired into Israel.  But I also know that if Israeli forces should do that, the world will definitely accuse Israel of being the aggressor and "bad guy."  Israeli leaders know that any cease-fire or truce will only be used by Hamas to re-gather its strength and to re-supply its rockets. 

Ah, but a solution is coming some day when the Messiah comes and will establish His Kingdom and reign from Jerusalem.  What a great day that will be!  Until that day happens, we need to pray that prayer of David: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be secure.  May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.'  For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, 'Peace be within you.'  For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity." (Psalm 122:6-9).