By David W. Virtue, DD
March 21, 2025
World Council of Churches general secretary The Rev’d Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed deep alarm and grief over the deadly attack on Gaza carried out by Israeli forces on 17-18 March, supposedly (Hamas numbers can never be trusted) killing more than 330 people: “We unequivocally condemn this unnecessary re-escalation of violence, which has led to more deaths and further suffering for innocent civilians, including women and children.”
“In this Lenten season, we pray for the healing of the wounded, for the consolation of the bereaved, and for a future in which justice and peace prevail."
“We unequivocally condemn this unnecessary re-escalation of violence, which has led to more deaths and further suffering for innocent civilians, including women and children,” said Pillay.
So why no mention of hostages held by Hamas, many of whom must be close to death? Why no mention of Houthis who attack civilian vessels carrying much needed goods to the world? And the rockets they fire at Israel?
This one-sided take is typical of the liberal Western religious mindset. Behind it is a hatred of Israel and everything it stands for, including freedom and the right to exist.
And you wonder why evangelicals stand for Israel while the rest of the religious word hates Israel and stands against her.
Can you blame Bibi Netanyahu for restarting the war against Hamas? Sadly, in war civilians die. They always do. Did Winston Churchill apologize for bombing Dresden where upwards of 35,000 civilians, most of whom were women, children, and the elderly died? He did not. The Allied strategic bombing of Germany during World War II (1939-45) involved British and U.S. bomber planes attacking industrial cities, factories, railways, airfields, and dams. Over 600,000 civilians died as a consequence. Just over 40,000 men, women and children have died in Gaza. Most were probably terrorists.
The world’s desire to heap blame on Israel is nothing short of shameful. You want to know why Bibi digs his toes in and declares to Hamas and the world, “release all the hostages” or face restarting the war? That’s why.
U.S. President Donald Trump has now weighed in and has given Iran two months to decide whether it wants to begin talks with the United States over containing Iran’s nuclear ambitions or roll the dice on what might come in place of negotiations.
“All options are on the table,” national security adviser Michael Waltz said Sunday in an ABC interview, according to The Washington Post, saying that if Iran does not “hand over … the missiles, the weaponization, the enrichment” of nuclear material, “they can face a whole series of other consequences.”
With Iran on the brink of being able to make a nuclear weapon, Trump offered Iran the option of talks, but set a two-month deadline on accepting or rejecting his offer, according to Axios, which noted Iran currently has enough enriched uranium that if taken to the next level of enrichment needs for a bomb, it could produce six weapons.
By making it an either/or issue Trump has blown up the Biden/Blinken political standoff with Iran. Iran played them for suckers. Drag out negotiations for as long as you can while developing a nuclear weapon and then tell everyone it is my way or the nuclear highway. Hopefully Trump has seen through this transparent curtain and will--with Israel--deal a death blow to Iran. Certainly, the people of Iran would welcome the end of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hard-core Muslims hated the Shah but they hate the Ayatollah even more.
The people of Yemen, like those in Gaza, deserve security, dignity, and the opportunity to live free from fear and violence, the WCC leader urged. And so would the people of Israel whose only safety from the rockets fired at her, lies in the destruction of her Nazi-like foes--Hamas, the Houthis, and the Iranian mullahs.
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