What the Bible says about the Israel-Gaza war

In a recent speech, Benjamin Netanyahu invoked the words of Ecclesiastes, "There's a time for war" as justification for Israel's military operation in Gaza. But is this an appropriate use of scripture? It's complicated, says Rev Mark Woods

How should Christians respond to what’s happening in Israel and Gaza? What does the Bible say?

These are two questions that are often treated as though they’re almost the same. We look to the Bible for guidance, particularly in the big things, and surely it must say something about this.

Well, yes and no. Our opening questions are actually quite different, and if we go to the Bible for simple answers about such things we won’t find them.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, recently quoted Ecclesiastes 3:8, “There is a time for war and a time for peace”. Now, he said, is a time for war. But Jesus quoted Leviticus 19:18 and said, “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22:39) and he also said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9). All of these sayings are biblical.

So when Christians – especially Christians who do not live in the region – go to the Bible for guidance about praying for Israel and Gaza, a knowledge of scripture texts alone is not enough. We need...