Strikes

Uncle Sam’s allies are on offense.

Early Saturday in Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike hit a school-turned-shelter in one of the deadliest attacks of the 10-month war. 

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says more than ninety people––including 11 women and six children––were killed and fifty more wounded; Israel disputes that toll, saying the “precise munitions” used could not have caused the reported damage and that “no women and children were present.” Israel says they killed 19 militants including a senior Islamic Jihad commander; it blames any civilian deaths on Hamas, saying they hid a command center within the school (which Hamas denies).

Meanwhile, Russia and Belarus have sent reinforcements to the border region where Ukrainian troops’ have pushed six miles into Russia. Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy said the invasion aims to “restore justice” and put “pressure on the aggressor.” 

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LOVE HUMBLY
It’s easy to only show compassion for victims. But Christians don’t have the privilege of stopping there; we’re called (quite uncomfortably) to love everyone—including terrorists, troops, diplomats, hostages, Palestinians, Israelis, Russians, Ukrainians, and those who disagree with you about the way out of these wars (Luke 6:32, 35). 

“Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Book of Common Prayer, page 655