Pray for Rafah
Pray for Rafah
Pray for Rafah
This could be my blog entry for today, with nothing else, although you might have been left a little more confused than usual in following my thread.
Rafah is a "safe" city in the south of the Gaza Palestinian territory. A few years ago its population was estimated at 170,000 but today that number is approximately 1.4 million as much of the territory's population has fled the Israeli military offensive that has killed 28,000 Palestinians and levelled much of Gaza City and towns in the north. The vast majority of the displaced people are living in tents during what is winter for the region. It has been raining and the temperatures are in the teens. Hundreds of thousands are at risk of starvation and disease because aid cannot reach them.
For days Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has been threatening an invasion of Rafah in search of Hamas terrorists. We have seen, though, that military action has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, many of them children. While this began as a response to the horrific attack by Hamas terrorists last October 7th, the level of vengeance is unconscionable. The people in Rafah have been warned to leave but there is no place to go.
American President Joe Biden has wagged his finger at Israel and told them not to do this, as have the Brits. Yesterday Canada, Australia, and New Zealand issued a joint statement expressing "grave concern" over the plans for a military operation. What do these statements mean in any practical sense. The US continues to provide billions of dollars in aid to Israel, both in cash and military support. To the best of my knowledge there are no prohibitions on the sale of armaments to Israel from these other countries. It feels as though these are statements made to placate the growing number of voices from constituents who are appalled at the loss of life and the basic necessities for human existence.
I am deeply disappointed at the lack of leadership on Canada's part and I can't help but feel that our federal government is cautiously taking its direction from the Americans. As a Christian who has followed the plight of Palestinians, including Palestinian Christians in the West Bank and Gaza, I am dismayed and angered. What is unfolding certainly looks more like ethnic cleansing or genocide all the time.
Here is the Joint Statement:
The Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on reports of Israel’s planned military operation in Rafah.
We are gravely concerned by indications that Israel is planning a ground offensive into Rafah. A military operation into Rafah would be catastrophic. About 1.5 million Palestinians are taking refuge in the area, including many of our citizens and their families. With the humanitarian situation in Gaza already dire, the impacts on Palestinian civilians from an expanded military operation would be devastating. We urge the Israeli government not to go down this path. There is simply nowhere else for civilians to go.
There is growing international consensus. Israel must listen to its friends and it must listen to the international community. The protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas.
An immediate humanitarian ceasefire is urgently needed. Hostages must be released. The need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza has never been greater. Rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian relief must be provided to civilians. The International Court of Justice has been clear: Israel must ensure the delivery of basic services and essential humanitarian assistance and must protect civilians. The Court’s decisions on provisional measures are binding.
We are clear that a sustainable ceasefire is necessary to finding a path towards securing lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians. Any ceasefire cannot be one sided. Hamas must lay down its arms and release all hostages immediately. We again unequivocally condemn Hamas for its terror attacks on Israel on October 7.
Ultimately, a negotiated political solution is needed to achieve lasting peace and security. Australia, Canada, and New Zealand remain steadfast in their commitment to a two-state solution, including the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, where Palestinians and Israelis live side by side in peace, security, and dignity.
Some thoughts on prayer-walking through Lent in today's Groundling blog
https://groundlingearthyheavenly.blogspot.com/2024/02/prayer-walking-through-lent.html
2 comments:
I totally understand the desire to eliminate Hamas after the horrific attacks in October. But what has happened since, and with the imminent invasion of Rafah, things are out of control. So many innocent civilians, many of whom were children, have been killed. And all signs point to many more in the near future. I can't imagine how horrific things are for the people of Gaza, and I'm sure many of them are convinced they've been forgotten by the international community.
Thanks for expressing your thoughts Roger. As you say, we can abhor Hamas and still oppose the terrible injustices in Gaza and the West Bank.
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