What About Terrorism?
What we've been taught was incomplete—
and often shaped by politics, not Scripture.
one that sanctifies injustice
and quietly reinforces racism.
We’ve been told Palestinians are violent.
That they’re all terrorists.
That their lives don’t matter as much.
But that’s not just bad theology.
That’s dehumanization.
And when our faith is used to excuse apartheid, land theft, and military occupation—
it’s no longer the Gospel.
It’s propaganda dressed in scripture.
Jesus stood with the oppressed.
Not the occupier.
It’s time to confront the racism hiding in our pews.
And reclaim His name—for peace, not power.
Terrorism is always evil. No cause, no history, no theology can justify the deliberate targeting of civilians.
The attacks by Hamas on October 7th were horrifying. Families slaughtered, civilians taken hostage, and lives shattered. We grieve with those who lost loved ones and unequivocally condemn the violence. Just as we condemn the countless acts of terrorism that have targeted Palestinians for decades—home demolitions, midnight arrests, indiscriminate bombings, and the collective punishment and ethnic cleansing of an entire people.
Some forms of terror make global headlines. Others unfold more quietly under the name of “security” or “defense.” But whether it’s a rocket launched into a city or a bomb dropped on a refugee camp, whether it’s a religious extremist with a suicide vest or a military force cutting off food and water—terror is terror.
There are violent extremists in every religion—Muslims, Christians, Jews. There are fundamentalist ideologies across faith traditions that preach supremacy, justify violence, and fuel hate. These must always be named and condemned.
But the presence of extremism does not define an entire people. Just as Jewish people are not represented by settler mobs who torch villages, and Christians are not represented by white supremacists who bomb Black churches, Palestinians are not defined by Hamas.
We must hold space for both grief and truth. We can condemn terrorism without dehumanizing entire populations. We can mourn Israeli victims without excusing apartheid. We can demand justice for all—without exception and without excuses.
When the Soldiers Speak Out
Even Some Israeli Soldiers Know: What’s Happening Is Wrong
Many former IDF soldiers have broken ranks—not just because they disagree with policy, but because they’ve witnessed and committed acts they now recognize as war crimes.
Through testimonies collected by groups like Breaking the Silence, Israeli veterans describe:
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Beatings, humiliation, and psychological torture of Palestinian civilians.
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Children as young as 12 arrested and blindfolded in midnight raids.
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Bombings of civilian homes, justified by vague or non-existent intelligence.
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A military doctrine that prioritizes control through fear and collective punishment.
These aren’t isolated incidents. They are part of a system designed to dominate and dehumanize—and many soldiers now admit it.
“We used to enter houses at night, wake up families, ransack their belongings—just to show them who’s in charge. We called it ‘mapping.’ It wasn’t about security. It was about power.”
— Former IDF Soldier, Breaking the Silence
These soldiers were trained to see Palestinians not as people, but as a threat. Some participated in torture, forced evictions, and targeted killings—and now live with the weight of that truth.
They’re not heroes for speaking out—but their confessions confirm what Palestinians have said for decades: this is not defense—it’s organized, state-sanctioned oppression.
So the question is:
If even the soldiers know it’s wrong, why is the Church still silent?
Is Hamas all terrorists?
Hamas is both a political party and a militant organization. That distinction is key. It governs the Gaza Strip, runs schools and hospitals, and provides social services. But it also has a military wing that has committed serious acts of terrorism, including targeting civilians, using indiscriminate rocket fire, and carrying out violent attacks that violate international law.
Those acts must be clearly condemned. Deliberately targeting civilians is always wrong—whether by Hamas, the IDF, or anyone else.
Are there “good” people in Hamas?
Yes—there are people in Hamas who are not bloodthirsty extremists. Many joined because:
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It was the only functioning political structure in Gaza.
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Hamas provided food, education, or healthcare when no one else did.
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They believed they were defending their families against occupation, blockade, and military violence.
Some likely joined to resist what they see as a foreign occupier—not to kill civilians. Others were born into it, with no alternative political horizon. In Gaza, resisting Israel’s military domination is often framed not as terrorism, but as dignity and defense.
That doesn’t mean every action taken in that name is justified—but it does mean we must understand context before rushing to label an entire group as evil.
But is Hamas a terrorist organization?
Most Western countries—including the U.S. and EU—classify the military wing of Hamas as a terrorist organization. And some members have committed horrific violence. That should never be minimized.
But framing every person associated with Hamas as a terrorist is intellectually lazy and morally dangerous. It:
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Ignores why people join in the first place.
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Dehumanizes 2 million people in Gaza by association.
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Erases the reality that Israel has committed systemic violence for decades, long before Hamas existed, often with U.S. support.
The deeper truth:
You can condemn Hamas’s terrorism and recognize that its rise was a reaction to decades of occupation, displacement, and despair.
You can say:
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“I want peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.”
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“I reject all terrorism—including the kind that hides behind tanks and airstrikes.”
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“I know the story is more complicated than just ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys.’”
And most importantly:
You can believe in Palestinian liberation without endorsing Hamas. Just like you can support Jewish safety without defending the Israeli government’s crimes.