I think enough time has passed that I can make a comment about the current horrors happening within the Gaza Strip. The fight over land is as old as the area, and in fact, it could be said that this fight goes back to the times of God’s calling Abraham to go to a land that we now call Israel.

But what to say about today’s war? First of all, there is no justification for the killing of civilians. All Armies create a standard for casualties of civilians – the unfortunate side effect of fighting in an urban area. The USA has what they call the civilian casualty ratio. A somewhat disturbing but acceptable reality that when war takes place some people will die because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Acceptable? Hardly. While Hamas should be condemned and held accountable for the atrocities they committed the State of Israel cannot be allowed to mow down children and innocent adults because they are in the way. We are witnessing a genocide of innocent people. The end does not justify the means.

Countries supplying money and weapons on both sides bear responsibility for this horrendous loss of life.

In a month where we celebrate the birth of The Prince of Peace, we need to pray that peace will come to the whole world.