The World Has Become Numb to the Killing of Innocent Civilians in Gaza

The tragedy unfolding in Gaza is horrifying and unacceptable. Every day brings more heartbreaking images, more grieving families, more innocent lives lost, and still, the violence continues.

In my latest column for Good Faith Media, I reflect on the ongoing devastation in Gaza, the moral failure of global inaction, and the urgent need for prophetic voices to rise up.

Stock Photo Illustration (Credit: hosnysala/Canva/https://tinyurl.com/mu354vah)

The World Has Become Numb to the Killing of Innocent Civilians in Gaza

Nowhere is safe in Gaza.

I never imagined I would live in a time where the death of innocent people would become just another headline that doesn’t stir any outrage. The world is becoming numb to the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza. The images are being shared in real time, and so many in the West are ignoring them.

On June 30, an Israeli airstrike targeted Al-Baqa Cafeteria, a popular café in western Gaza. It was a gathering place for journalists, activists and locals to visit and access the internet. In an instant, 30 innocent Palestinian civilians were killed and dozens more were wounded.

The death toll in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, has now risen to more than 56,000. That’s more than just a number; it’s an entire generation lost.

Mothers, fathers, children, artists, teachers, students, doctors and infants have been taken by airstrikes. What will it take for the world to wake up and stop the airstrikes on innocent Palestinian civilians?

Cease-fire negotiations have been ongoing since January, yet they remain stuck. Humanitarian aid has been blocked, and although some restrictions have eased due to pressure from allies, the suffering continues. Starvation, displacement and grief are daily realities for Palestinians in Gaza.

As people of faith, we must ask, how long will we stay silent?

This past Sunday’s lectionary readings reminded us of Elijah, the courageous prophet who spoke truth to power, confronting injustice and calling out corrupt rulers. He spoke fearlessly about God’s message and against the kings and rulers of Israel who strayed from God.

We need Elijahs today. We need prophetic voices willing to name what is happening for what it is: a humanitarian and moral crisis. We cannot call ourselves followers of Jesus and turn our backs on Gaza.

Gaza is holy ground. It is sacred to Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

And yet, it is being bombed, suffocated, destroyed, decimated and poisoned. It will be erased from the map and taken away from Palestinians if we do not act.

How can these atrocities be allowed in a world that claims to value human rights, dignity and peace?

Jesus was clear in his Sermon on the Mount about calling us to become peacemakers: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

That blessing is not for those who watch from the sidelines. It is for those who roll up their sleeves, raise their voices and pursue peace.

So, what can we do to push for a ceasefire?

• Speak out: We must use our voices and platforms. Silence only benefits the oppressor.

• Pray boldly: Not for comfort, but for courage to act and to speak.

• Educate ourselves: Learn the history of Gaza, the ongoing occupation, settler colonialism and the human rights violations against its people.

• Support aid efforts: Many trusted organizations are trying to provide food, water and medical care.

• Demand action: Write to our representatives, join protests and call for a permanent cease-fire and lasting peace.

We must not let our hearts become numb to human atrocities. We cannot let our faith become a cushion for comfort and complacency. It must become a fire for justice.

We must become the peacemakers that Jesus called us to be—prophets who speak out against rulers who are allowing this killing to happen.

May we have the courage to be vessels of that peace, even when it costs us something.

**Also read my previous Good Faith Media posts on Gaza:

• One Year Later: A Reflection on Occupation, Persecution and the Call for Justice

• Heart of the Moral Issue

• “Starve Gaza” is not an Option

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