As the current Israel-Hamas conflict continues into its 12th day, we should all take some time to reflect on the tragedy of the situation. Hamas, the terrorist group that rules over the Gaza strip, has not only waged war against Israel but also against the Palestinians whom they claim to represent. Hamas deliberately puts Palestinian citizens in danger by using civilian buildings as rocket launching sites and for other military purposes, knowing that these buildings will be targeted in counter-measures. Hamas further uses Palestinian citizens as human shields to increase their casualty count and thereby gain international sympathy. Israel is doing what is necessary to defend itself, and we should be proud of Israel for its efforts to minimize casualties by warning civilians prior to launching its counter-attacks. Nevertheless, there have been a substantial number of innocent people killed, and we should all take the time to express our remorse. Regret for loss of life is an integral aspect of Judaism that is deeply ingrained in our traditions and is a fundamental aspect of our humanity. Our hearts go out to all of the people -- Palestinian and Israeli alike -- who have died or been hurt as a result of the conflict, and we pray for the safety of those who are still with us.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 19:39:01 +0000
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