Letter to the body of Christ on Israel-Palestine conflict

There is an ongoing genocide in Palestine. Similarly, there are genocides happening in the Congo and in Sudan, as well as other horrible conflicts in different parts of the world, Nigeria being no exception. In all my research, I have found one of these conflicts to be central not only to the other two I have mentioned but to so much of the evil going on in the world today, and that is the conflict happening in Palestine.

There is much to speak about, untangling what is meant to be a complicated history, analysing the many reported peace negotiations, and laying out evidence based on what has been said and done by all parties over the decades. While I think this is important, I also believe it is essential to look directly at the heart of the matter—the fact that we are witnessing a genocide that is setting the stage for what could very well be World War III, and this is by no means an exaggeration.

Let me provide some very important context here. The modern State of Israel was founded in 1948 and established as a political and sovereign state largely through secular means, with support from international institutions like the United Nations. It differs in origin, identity, and geography from the biblical Israel, though they are linked by historical and religious significance. The global population of Jews today is significantly Ashkenazi—a Jewish ethnic group that emerged in the early medieval period, primarily in the Rhineland region of Western Germany and Northern France.

Palestinians are largely, if not entirely, of Semitic descent, as they descend from ancient populations that have lived in the region historically known as Canaan. Palestinians, including those in Gaza, the West Bank, and those in the diaspora, share close genetic and cultural links with ancient Semitic peoples of that region called the Levant, including Canaanites, Phoenicians, and the ancient Israelites—most of the Muslim population of Palestine are believed to be Islamic converts of Jewish ancestry. It is therefore contentious that they have been labelled in mainstream media as foreigners to the land in question or as anti-Semitic, a claim which is intrinsically fallacious.

Palestinians have been under a brutal illegal occupation, as noted by several international bodies, including the International Court of Justice. They have lived under Israeli apartheid for over seventy-five years—a system that sees them being segregated, denied basic rights, and treated as less than animals. They have faced frequent violence, forced displacement, and other unspeakable oppression during this time. A natural response to colonialism and occupation is resistance, as seen in countless instances in human history. This is the reason Hamas was formed—a resistance army to a brutal occupation that was labelled a terrorist organization—a label agreed upon by only thirty-five out of one hundred and ninety-three countries worldwide. While I totally reject any form of violence regardless of the perpetrator’s justification, I pray that this provides some much-needed context on this situation.

It is not uncommon to find men of the Christian faith conflating the Israel of the Bible with today’s ethno state, so I would be remiss not to emphasize that this is wrong. We could engage in endless debates about who started what, when, and how, but that would never change the fact that Hamas exists as an armed resistance in direct response to the illegal and brutal occupation by the State of Israel. Resistance to occupation is a right reaffirmed by several international codes, including United Nations General Assembly Resolutions and the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Additional Protocols (1977), specifically Protocol I, Article 1(4).

Now, let us say, for a moment, that I decide to put aside the current genocide against the people of Palestine. Let us say I decide to put aside the brutal, illegal occupation, siege, and apartheid enforced by the State of Israel against the people of Palestine, ongoing for over seventy-five years. Let us say I decide to put aside the fact that children as young as twelve are frequently sent to Israeli military prisons, often without charge or for minor offenses. Let us say I decide to put aside the documented cases of rape and other acts of sexual violence against Palestinians, even as some Israeli public officials host debates and call for the legalization of rape in the context of war. Let us say I decide to put aside the countless documented instances of illegal settlers stealing from Palestinian farmers, burning their crops, and violently evicting them from their homes, while the Israeli military stands by and, in many cases, assists them.

Let us say I decide to put aside the many claims around October 7th, including claims of forty beheaded babies, mass rape of women, and babies being baked in ovens, all of which have been proven to be fabrications still peddled by mainstream media. Let us say I decide to put aside the confessions of former Israeli soldiers who reveal orders to shoot or maim children as young as three, or the reports from doctors of overwhelming numbers of child casualties killed by single bullet wounds to the head. Let us say I decide to put aside the fact that Israeli government officials have referred to Palestinians—Muslims and Christians alike—as human animals. Would this then make the killing of over one hundred thousand people within the span of a year palatable to us as the body of Christ? Is there ever a justification for the brutal killing of women and children we have witnessed in Palestine?

I’m not looking to chastise anyone for a lack of understanding. Instead, I’m writing this letter as an invitation to every man and woman of God who presides over a congregation in this body of Christ to engage in conversations and research on this issue. I ask that you first take these revelations into your quiet place and test them with scripture and prayer, so I too may find correction, should it be needed.

Mark 8:36 asks, “What shall it profit a man to gain the world and lose his own soul?” and 1 John 4:20 asks, “…for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” Additionally, I ask, what shall it profit the body of Christ to win souls who would claim to love God whom they have not seen, yet show no love to their fellow man facing unspeakable adversity—a fellow man they can see?

In Matthew 5:9, Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” So, we must ask ourselves—are we not called to be children of God? Are we not called to be peacemakers? We are urged not to ignore our neighbour’s suffering, just as we wouldn’t ignore our own. As the body of Christ, it is essential that we recognize the power of our unified voice and its role in shaping a more just society. Despite the confusion the devil may sow through lies and deceit, truth exists, and it’s this truth we are often pushed to overlook.

Countless voices of the Jewish faith have been very vocal about their opposition to this illegal, brutal occupation and the apartheid the Palestinians have been forced to live under. These same people are persecuted, cursed, and brutalized even by their own government for standing up against what is clearly a great evil being perpetrated in our time. Do we not wish to lend our voices in solidarity with them, if not with the Palestinians?Churches in Palestine have been destroyed and reduced to rubble. Christians in Palestine have been killed. Is the body of Christ called to be silent when its members face such great evil?

Leviticus 19:18 tells us, “Love your neighbour as yourself,” and Galatians 6:2 adds, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfil the law of Christ.” We cannot wait until an issue directly impacts us before we take a stand; that’s not the way of the Gospel. Though we may be divided by denomination, we cannot claim to follow Christ’s teachings if we cannot unite on his central commandment—love. This love guides us in times like these, reminding all of us that silence and indifference in the face of injustice go against the very heart of our faith. Injustice against one is an injustice against all and a stain on humanity.

I thought long and hard about publishing this letter. I was told that Christians in this country simply won’t care about this issue as we are currently facing unprecedented economic hardship, unless I show them how it concerns them. This, to me, was a welcome challenge, as I have enough details to share on why this is an even bigger problem economically and otherwise for us as Nigerians than we realize. However, upon further thought, I decided that I would keep the entirety of my call to action in this letter focused on scripture alone, as that is the true test of our faith and a test of the selflessness which the Bible calls us to embody.

Are we a body of Christ that cares about our stewardship over this earth and all in it, or are we a body of selfish worshippers, seeking only personal salvation without any real desire for the full spectrum of God’s demands on us through Jesus Christ?

• Itua Ehimuan is a Strategy & Experiential Marketing Consultant. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Law & Economics from the University of Leicester, and a Master’s degree in International Law (with a focus on International Criminal Justice & International Trade) from Birkbeck, University of London. He has worked extensively in entertainment, sports, luxury fashion and FMCG and has overseen projects with international celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Patrice Evra and Regina King. He writes from London, United Kingdom.