Gaza Strip Killing Raises Middle East Tensions

The Wired Word for the Week of April 2, 2017

In the News

Last Sunday, the only civilian crossing at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel was closed by the militant Islamist movement Hamas. Israeli troops went on high alert, and tensions between Israel and Hamas reached their highest level since 2014, when the two enemies fought a 50-day battle. That fighting led to the deaths of 74 Israelis and more than 2,100 Palestinians.

According to The Washington Post, the closing of the border crossing was a response to the death of a senior Hamas operative, allegedly shot with a silencer-fitted pistol in the garage of his home in the Gaza Strip. Mazen Fuqaha, a 38-year-old senior commander in the military wing of Hamas, was shot at point-blank range, a killing that Hamas is blaming on Israel. Both Israel and the United States consider Hamas a terrorist organization.

Fuqaha spent nine years in an Israeli prison after being convicted of taking part in planning the suicide bombings that killed dozens of Israeli civilians in the early 2000s. Those deaths occurred during what was called the second "intifada," or uprising. He was one of more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners released in 2011 in exchange for an Israeli soldier named Gilad Shalit. After his release, Fuqaha was not allowed to return to his childhood home in the West Bank. Instead, he was expelled to the Gaza Strip, and from that location he oversaw the military operations of Hamas in the West Bank.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Fuqaha's wife said the family had just returned from an outing. Her husband left to park the car in their garage and did not return. She thought he had gone to visit some neighbors, but then learned from a friend that her husband was dead. "I couldn't believe it at all. It was a shock," she said. "He received death threats all the time since his release in 2011, but he never paid any attention to it."

The checkpoint that has now been closed is called the Erez crossing. It is a civilian checkpoint used frequently by Gazans seeking health care in Israel and the West Bank, as well as by aid workers and foreign journalists. This is the first time Hamas has closed the Erez crossing. Another checkpoint exists on the border with Egypt, but that one is usually closed.

Hamas has set up checkpoints across the Gaza Strip in the hope of catching the people who might have been involved in Fuqaha's killing. Hamas's military wing issued a statement: "We say it clearly that the crime was planned and conducted by the Zionist enemy. And the enemy will be responsible for the crime consequences." Israel has not yet commented on the death.

Calling Israel "the Zionist enemy" is not unusual for Hamas, though it is notable at a time in which the organization is trying to improve its global image. According to Haaretz, Hamas is formulating new policies which will include, for the very first time, acceptance of the pre-1967 borders for a Palestinian state. The organization hopes that this position will help it break the boycott from foreign countries and international organizations. (It should be noted, however, that this new policy does not include a recognition of Israel's right to exist, and it accepts pre-1967 borders that give Israel's enemies a significant high-ground military advantage.) Hamas will also declare its independence from any outside party such as the Muslim Brotherhood, which is banned in Egypt. This move is designed to improve relationships with Egyptian authorities.

While Israel has carried out assassinations of Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip in the past, the attacks have always been launched from the air, using missiles and jets. Such a killing at point-blank range would be nearly impossible for Israel to achieve without having people inside the Gaza Strip who either support Israel or are merely opposed to Hamas. No such attacks have occurred since Israel withdrew from the territory and all Jews were expelled in 2005.

Although no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, Israeli media has reported that it was similar in style to the killing of a Hamas drone engineer in December, outside his house in Tunisia. That killing was linked to the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency. In addition, Palestinian media have published a report by Fuqaha's father. He says that officers from Shin Bet, Israel's security agency, visited him several times. They said that if his son did not stop his attacks on Israel, they would get hold of him.

Troops and civilians in southern Israel have been put on alert as the region prepares for renewed clashes between Israel and Hamas. Said Amos Yadlin, former director of military intelligence in Israel, "Hamas could decide that Fuqaha was assassinated by Israel and retaliate, and then we will retaliate to the retaliation, and we could be in another clash very quickly."

More on this story can be found at these links:

Point-Blank Killing of Senior Hamas Operative Deepens Tensions Between Israel, Gaza. The Washington PostFor First Time, Hamas Prepared to Accept Pre-1967 Borders for Palestinian State. Haaretz

The Big Questions

1. The cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians has been going on for years. What trusts have been broken? Where do you see possibilities for improvement in the relationship? What can be done to stop the endless retaliations?

2. Where do you see ancient animosities in American life, and how can they be addressed? What can you do to be a peacemaker in your community?

3. Abraham Lincoln used military force against his enemies, but he also asked the question "Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?" Where have you seen enemies turned into friends? How was this accomplished? When has this not been possible?

4. Jesus the Messiah is called "the Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6), but his followers are often at odds with one another. What church fights have you witnessed? What, if anything, was done to resolve them?

5. Many families have a history of grudges and resentments. Where do you see opportunities to make peace in your own family? Why is this work so difficult?

Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:

Genesis 4:8-10
Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" And the LORD said, "What have you done? Listen; your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground!" (For context, read 4:1-16.)

In the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve have two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain is a tiller of the ground and Abel is a keeper of sheep. Each brings an offering to the Lord, but only Abel's offering receives God's approval. This makes Cain very angry. God warns him that "sin is lurking at the door" (v. 7), but Cain falls prey to sin and murders his brother Abel. God's penalty is that the ground will no longer yield to Cain its strength, and he "will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth" (v. 12).

Questions: In one of the first stories of human life in the Bible, one brother kills another. What does this tell you about human nature? Where do you see fierce struggles between close relatives in your family, your church, your community and the world? How can people confront this sin and "master it" (v. 7)?

Judges 4:21
But Jael wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to [Sisera] and drove the peg into his temple, until it went down into the ground -- he was lying fast asleep from weariness -- and he died. (For context, read 4:1-24.)

According to the book of Judges, Sisera is the commander of a Canaanite army who has been cruelly oppressing the Israelites for two decades. Through the prophetess Deborah, God tells Barak, son of Abinoam, to raise a military force and defeat Sisera. Barak is hesitant and insists that Deborah accompany him. Barak defeats Sisera's forces, killing all his soldiers, but Sisera is able to escape on foot. Since Sisera has friendly relations with Heber, Sisera takes refuge in the tent of Heber's wife Jael. This appears to be a great hiding place because normally, only the husband or father can enter a woman's tent. When Sisera falls asleep, Jael commits a sneaky assassination by driving a tent peg into his head.

Questions: When, if ever, are ruses and assassinations acceptable in warfare? When are they not? What principles can be used to guide our actions and our judgment of others in such cases? What is your personal assessment of the action Jael took?

Proverbs 25:21-22
If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on their heads, and the LORD will reward you. (No context needed.)

These verses from the book of Proverbs suggest that the best revenge is no revenge at all. The image is striking -- by providing food and drink to your enemy, you may eliminate them altogether. Your enemy will at last cease to exist because they will become your friend. The apostle Paul quotes this proverb and expands on it in Romans 12, ending with the verse "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (v. 21).

Questions: Can you think of a time when you reached out to an enemy with kindness, or when someone you disliked reached out to you in similar fashion? What was the result? How could this proverb be applied to the current situation in the Middle East? How could it be applied to the fractured political situation in our country?

Matthew 5:9-10
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (For context, read 5:1-12).

At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaims God's favor to those who try to live according to the values of his kingdom. Among the blessed ones are the "peacemakers" and those who are "persecuted for righteousness' sake." Jesus does not bless the peace-lovers or peace-seekers, but instead the peace-makers -- indicating that this goal requires action. He also proclaims God's favor to those who are persecuted for seeking a right relationship with other people and with God. This kind of righteousness often leads to opposition and suffering.

Questions: When have you had to do the hard work of peacemaking in your family, church or community? What opposition did you encounter? When have you been persecuted for pursuing righteousness? What blessing, if any, came from this pursuit?

Luke 4:24-26
And [Jesus] said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon." (For context, read 4:16-30.)

Jesus begins his ministry in his hometown of Nazareth by going to the synagogue and reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He says, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (v. 21). The people are amazed at his gracious words, and Jesus suspects that they will want him to do miracles among them. But he reminds them of the story of Elijah, who was sent by God to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon, even though there were many widows in Israel. The message is that God cares for people outside our borders, and does wonders when insiders and outsiders work together. The people of Nazareth become enraged by the words of Jesus and try to throw him off a cliff.

Questions: Why do the people of Nazareth expect God and Jesus to work for their personal benefit? What causes them to feel such rage toward Jesus? When have you worked with an "outsider," and what discoveries have you made? Why is God encouraging us to move beyond our comfortable borders of culture, race or nationality?

2 Corinthians 5:18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. (For context, read 5:16-21.)

The apostle Paul says that "if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation" (v. 17). At the heart of this new creation is reconciliation, which is the resolution of disputes between God and humankind, and between human beings, one with another. Paul understands that God has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and the result of this work is that we are given the ministry of reconciliation. As "ambassadors for Christ" (v. 20), we are to carry the message of reconciliation forward and to do whatever we can to repair broken relationships.

Questions: Where do you see opportunities to repair broken relationships in your family, your church or your community? What actions should you take in the work of reconciliation? Why is this ministry so central to the Christian faith?

For Further Discussion

1. The article "Breaking Faith" by Peter Beinart in The Atlantic raises the question of whether worshiping with people of other ethnicities makes you more sympathetic to them. "Although American churches are heavily segregated," says Beinart, "it's possible that the modest level of integration they provide promotes cross-racial bonds." When, if ever, has this been true for you? What insights have you gained?

2. Golda Meir, the former prime minister of Israel, said, "What we hold against Nasser [the president of Egypt] is not only the killing of our sons but forcing them for the sake of Israel's survival to kill others." What is the true cost of war? Beyond the loss of "our sons," where do you see damage being done by "forcing them" to kill others, even if that is the least harmful choice? How can this deadly cycle be broken?

3. In Luke 6:27-28, Jesus says, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." Our love is generally reserved for those who are affectionate to us, but Jesus challenges us to love our enemies. What does this mean to you? How can it be done? In what situations have you done good to people who hated you, and what was the outcome?

4. Our country is highly fractured and polarized along political lines, andPsychology Today suggests that we are also divided psychologically: "Reactions on the Right and Left have less to do with politics, and are dictated by what increases or reduces their personal anxieties.When liberals and conservatives view the same presentation of facts, they respond in very different ways emotionally and psychologically." What first steps could be taken to get people talking about their anxieties and emotions? Where do you see opportunities to reach across these divides and work for reconciliation?

5. The letter to the Hebrews advises us to "pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord" (12:14). The author makes a link between peace and holiness, suggesting that our relationships with one another are connected to our relationship with God. Where do you see evidence of this link? How can you pursue both peace and holiness?

Responding to the News

Look for a place in your family, church or community in which tensions are rising. Listen carefully to where the grievances lie, and find ways to encourage open and honest communication. Perform the work of reconciliation by taking concrete steps to resolve the dispute.

Closing Prayer

Almighty God, we thank you for reconciling us to yourself through your Son Jesus Christ, and for giving us the ministry of reconciliation. Help us to work for greater understanding and peace, through all we say and do. In Jesus' name. Amen.