Violent Night, Unholy Night

The season of Christmas has been marred by the deaths of many in the area known as the Gaza Strip, adjacent to Israel. The provocation for the bombardment by Israel was rocket attacks by the militant group, Hamas. Hamas marked the end of a ceasefire by firing these home-made rockets randomly into the suburbs of Tel Aviv. The Israeli response was with much more sophisticated weaponry, although not so precise that they can avoid civilians, including children.

What a collosal, interminable mess. It would be wrong to downplay the threat that Hamas poses to Israeli security. Israel has the right to protect its citizens, but this has been called the fiercest bombardment in 40 years. As usual, the response results in great hardship to an area that is amongst the most crowded and impoverished in the world. Hamas is essentially a law unto itself in Gaza, so the innocent suffer when the militants are punished.

Yesterday I listened to one of the few psychiatrists in Gaza who spoke of the effect of the Israeli bombardment on children and others. There is a constant state of terror which makes normal life next to impossible. The United Nations has called for a resumed ceasefire, but who knows if anyone is listening. In fact, Israel has rejected the most recent proposal for a ceasefire.

In the region we associate with the angels' message of "peace on earth and good will toward all"

there is suspicion and anger and violence. Discouraging. We can pray as we have prayed for so long that this seemingly endless cycle of "an eye for an eye" come to an end.