October 7th and the War: Truth, Mercy, and Enemies
Summary:
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel that killed approximately 1,175 people and took 251 hostages, triggering a war that has since killed over 68,000 Palestinians in Gaza, spread to Lebanon with Hezbollah, and resulted in a fragile ceasefire as of October 2025. For Christians, this conflict presents a profound challenge: honoring God's covenant promises to Israel (Genesis 12:3) and supporting Israel's right to defend itself against a terrorist organization explicitly committed to its destruction, while simultaneously mourning the immense suffering of Palestinian civilians and loving our enemies as Jesus commanded (Matthew 5:44). The path forward requires rejecting dehumanization on all sides, demanding truthful reporting, mourning with all who mourn (Israeli families waiting for hostages, Palestinian mothers digging through rubble, Lebanese communities displaced by war), and responding with prayer, practical relief work, wise advocacy for policies that protect innocent life everywhere, and the long-term commitment to pursue both justice and mercy. Rather than choosing political affiliations, Christians are called to a consistent ethic of life that recognizes every person (Israeli, Palestinian, Lebanese) as made in God's image, even when the complexity is overwhelming and the path to peace seems impossibly distant. How Christians speak about war reveals our view of God and neighbor.
What Actually Happened
First, the facts matter. Truth-telling is an act of love.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched what they called "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood"—a coordinated attack involving thousands of rockets, breaches at over 100 points along the Gaza border, and militants who invaded Israeli communities. About 1,175 people were killed during the attack, including 379 members of Israeli security forces and 796 civilians. The civilian dead included women, children, and infants. Some 251 people were taken hostage, including 74 from the Nir Oz kibbutz alone. The attack was shocking in its brutality and in its success at penetrating Israel's vaunted defenses. It was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust and the worst intelligence failure in Israel's history. The timing was calculated: it fell on the Sabbath and the final day of Sukkot, fifty years and a day after the Yom Kippur War. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people, including Hamas commandos and civilians from Gaza, crossed into Israel that morning.
Israel's response was immediate and overwhelming. Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas. Within hours, Israeli airstrikes began pounding Gaza. On October 27, Israel launched a ground invasion with the stated objectives of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages. The war that followed has been devastating. Over 68,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed according to the Gaza Health Ministry, almost half of them women and children, with more than 170,000 injured.
The conflict didn't stay contained. On October 8, 2023, one day after the Hamas attack, Hezbollah in Lebanon began firing rockets at Israel in what it called solidarity with Palestinians. This sparked a year of cross-border strikes that eventually escalated into an Israeli invasion of Lebanon in September-October 2024. The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah left almost 4,000 people dead and more than 16,000 wounded in Lebanon, with Israeli strikes causing extensive damage and displacing more than 1 million Lebanese. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came in November 2024, though violations have occurred.
In Gaza, there have been multiple attempts at ceasefire. A temporary pause in November 2023 allowed some hostage releases but quickly collapsed. A second ceasefire in January 2025 ended when Israel resumed operations in March. The current ceasefire—the third attempt—came into effect on October 10, 2025, as part of a U.S.-brokered peace plan. As of mid-October, about 20 Israeli hostages thought to be alive are expected to be released, though tensions remain high and there have already been alleged violations. And to put it bluntly, the humanitarian situation is catastrophic. Israel's tightened blockade has cut off basic necessities, causing a severe hunger crisis with imminent to confirmed famine as of October 2025. More than 90% of housing units in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. Entire neighborhoods are rubble. Families who survived the bombs face starvation, disease, and winter without shelter.
This is the landscape of facts. Numbers that represent real people: Israeli grandmothers gunned down in their homes, Palestinian children buried under collapsed buildings, Lebanese families fleeing their villages, hostages still held in darkness. Every single one made in God's image.
Why This Matters and Why It's So Hard
You might be reading this and already feeling the tension. Some of you have strong convictions about Israel. Others feel deeply for the Palestinians. Many of you are simply overwhelmed by the violence and suffering on all sides.
Here's what makes this particularly challenging for Christians: we're called to hold multiple truths at once.
First, we must recognize that Hamas has explicitly stated its goal is Israel's destruction. The 1988 Hamas charter stated that "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam invalidates it, just as it invalidated others before it," and emphasized that "renouncing any part of Palestine means renouncing part of the religion." While Hamas issued an updated charter in 2017 that removed some antisemitic language, Hamas officials have continued to state that they seek the liberation of Palestine "from the river to the sea,” meaning all of Israel. Hamas co-founder Mahmoud al-Zahar clarified that even if Hamas accepts a Palestinian state on 1967 borders, "we will go directly to liberate the rest of Palestine and the territories of 1948, and there will be no negotiations.”
This isn't political rhetoric.
It's stated ideology backed by decades of suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and now the October 7 massacre. Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, Canada, and others. Their actions on October 7 weren't resistance; they were calculated acts of terror against civilians.
Second, we recognize Israel's right and responsibility to defend its citizens. No nation can simply accept attacks on its people. Israel's response, while controversial in its scope and civilian toll, came after its people were brutally attacked. The hostage crisis continues to this day, with families agonizing over loved ones still held captive.
And third, here's where it gets harder, we must also recognize the immense suffering of Palestinian civilians who had no part in Hamas's attack. Tens of thousands of innocent people have died. Children have been orphaned. Families have lost everything. The humanitarian crisis is real and urgent. These Palestinians are also made in God's image, and their lives matter to Him.
How do we hold all of this? How do we care about Israeli security and Palestinian suffering? How do we stand against terrorism while mourning civilian casualties?
This is where Scripture calls us beyond the world's categories.
What God's Word Says About Israel and Our Calling
Let's start with something that shapes how many Christians view this conflict: God's promises to Israel.
In Genesis 12:3, God tells Abraham, "I will bless those who bless you and curse him who curses you." This covenant promise is repeated throughout Scripture. Numbers 24:9 reaffirms that "whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, and whoever curses Israel will be cursed." For many believers, these passages aren't just ancient history, they're ongoing promises that should shape how nations and individuals relate to the Jewish people and the land of Israel.
Other passages like Zechariah 12:3 speak of God's protective relationship with Jerusalem, and Micah 5:7 envisions a future where Israel will be "like dew from the Lord," a blessing to the nations.
But, and this is important, interpreting these promises requires wisdom. Some focus on supporting the modern state of Israel as a direct application of these promises. Others emphasize blessing the Jewish people as God's chosen people rather than focusing on specific government policies. Still others, particularly in the New Testament tradition, understand the promise through Christ, who is the ultimate "seed" of Abraham, suggesting that all who are in Christ (both Jewish and Gentile believers) are heirs to the promise, which is primarily spiritual. Romans 11 suggests that God still has a special plan for the future of ethnic Jewish people, potentially involving a revival as a sign of the end times. As Christians, we can affirm God's ongoing love for the Jewish people without believing that every action taken by any Israeli government is beyond criticism.
Here's the key: The biblical command to "bless Israel" is often described as an unconditional covenant, meaning it is not dependent on the actions or character of those who bless or curse Israel. We can support Israel's right to exist and defend itself, recognizing God's historical promises to Abraham's descendants, while also grieving when any people, Israeli or Palestinian, suffer and die.
But Scripture doesn't stop with promises to Israel. It gives us a broader ethic that must shape our response to this conflict.
We are called to care for all who suffer. Psalm 10 gives voice to those crushed by violence: "Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" The psalmist cries out against the wicked who prey on the vulnerable. This psalm doesn't just apply to one side of a conflict, it's the prayer of everyone whose life has been shattered by violence.
We are called to love our enemies. Jesus doesn't mince words in Matthew 5:44: "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." This is perhaps the most radical command in Scripture, and it applies whether our "enemies" are terrorists who attack civilians or soldiers whose bombs fall on the innocent. Love doesn't mean agreeing or condoning: it means refusing to dehumanize, choosing to see the image of God even in those we oppose, and praying for their transformation.
We are called to overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21 gives us the template: "Do not repay anyone evil for evil... If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." This doesn't mean passivity in the face of injustice.It means responding to darkness with light, to hate with love, to violence with the relentless pursuit of peace.
This is impossibly hard. But it's also exactly what the gospel calls us to.
How Should We Respond?
So what do we actually do? How do we live out these convictions in a world where the news keeps getting worse?
Reject Dehumanization Wherever We Find It
This is foundational. Every Israeli killed on October 7 was a person with a name, a story, people who loved them. Every Palestinian child killed in Gaza was fearfully and wonderfully made by God. Every Lebanese family displaced by war matters to their Creator.
When you hear someone celebrate civilian deaths, on any side, speak up. When you see social media posts reducing complex human beings to political pawns, push back. This doesn't mean pretending there aren't bad actors or terrorist organizations. It means remembering that even in the midst of evil, God grieves every lost life.
Demand Truthful Reporting
Misinformation spreads faster than facts in wartime. We've seen it throughout this conflict: casualty numbers disputed, videos taken out of context, claims made and retracted. As Christians committed to truth, we have a responsibility to be careful consumers and sharers of information. Check multiple sources, especially original reporting from credible journalists. Be skeptical of claims that seem designed purely to inflame emotions. Acknowledge when you don't know something. It's okay to say "I'm not sure what's true here" rather than spreading potentially false information that damages real people.
And here's something crucial: be willing to hold Israel and Hamas to the same standard of truth. If we defend one side's misinformation while attacking the other's, we've chosen tribalism over truth.
Mourn With All Who Mourn
Romans 12:15 tells us to "mourn with those who mourn." Not just mourn with those on "our side," mourn with all who suffer.
This means sitting with the anguish of Israeli families waiting for news of hostages. It means mourning over Palestinian mothers digging through rubble for their children. It means feeling the fear of Lebanese communities evacuating their homes. It means acknowledging the trauma of young Israeli soldiers and the desperation of Gazan teenagers who've known nothing but conflict. You don't have to agree with someone's politics to grieve their pain. And that’s because empathy isn't a zero-sum game. Caring about Israeli suffering doesn't diminish Palestinian suffering, and vice versa. The heart of God is big enough to break for everyone.
Pray. Really Pray.
Prayer isn't a cop-out when we don't know what else to do. It's the most powerful thing we can do. But let's be honest about what this means.
Pray for the release of the remaining hostages. Pray for protection of civilians on all sides. Pray for wise leaders (both Israeli and Palestinian) who will choose paths toward peace rather than perpetual war. Pray for Hamas to disarm and for new leadership to emerge that seeks the genuine flourishing of Palestinians rather than the destruction of Israel.
Pray for aid workers risking their lives to bring food and medicine. Pray for medical staff treating the wounded. Pray for children growing up in bomb shelters and refugee camps. Pray for peace. Not just the absence of violence, but the presence of justice, reconciliation, and flourishing.
And pray for your own heart. Pray that God would give you His perspective, His compassion, His wisdom. Pray that He would root out any hatred, any tribalism, any willingness to dehumanize those made in His image.
Support Relief Work
Prayer should lead to action. There are organizations doing incredible work to alleviate suffering in the region.
Look for groups that are actually on the ground—feeding the hungry, treating the wounded, providing shelter. Be discerning about where you give. Some organizations are genuinely helping people; others are politicized or worse. Research carefully, and when you find trustworthy groups, support them financially and in prayer.
If your church doesn't already partner with relief organizations working in Israel and Palestine, start that conversation. What would it look like for your congregation to "adopt" a community in the region—not politically, but practically? To commit to praying for them weekly, supporting relief efforts, and staying engaged for the long haul?
Advocate Wisely
Some of you reading this are called to advocacy—speaking to elected officials, writing about these issues, organizing within your communities. This is important work, but do it thoughtfully.
Advocate for policies that protect innocent life on all sides. Push back against dehumanizing rhetoric in political discourse. Support leaders who demonstrate genuine concern for both Israeli security and Palestinian dignity. Oppose actions that target civilians, whether they're Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli cities or policies that collectively punish Palestinian populations.
And critically: be consistent. If you're pro-life, that should mean opposing the killing of innocent people everywhere—whether they're in the womb, at a music festival, or in a refugee camp. A consistent ethic of life says every human being has inherent dignity and worth.
Host Civil Conversations
One of the most practical things churches can do is create space for difficult conversations. This conflict has torn apart friendships, divided families, and fractured communities. Many people don't know how to talk about Israel and Palestine without it devolving into shouting matches.
Your church could be different. What if you hosted a forum where people with different perspectives could share their views respectfully? Where you started by affirming shared commitments—to the dignity of all people, to truth, to peace—before discussing areas of disagreement?
This isn't about finding a middle ground for the sake of comfort. It's about modeling what it looks like when Christians with different political views stay in community with each other, refusing to let worldly divisions destroy the unity of the Spirit. In a polarized world, that's a powerful witness.
Remember the Long Arc
Finally, remember that this conflict didn't start in October 2023, and it won't end with the current ceasefire. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has roots going back over a century. Hamas didn't emerge in a vacuum—it grew out of decades of occupation, failed peace processes, and genuine Palestinian grievances.
None of that justifies terrorism. But it reminds us that sustainable peace requires addressing root causes, not just managing symptoms. It requires Israelis feeling secure and Palestinians having dignity, freedom, and opportunity. It requires acknowledging historical wrongs on all sides while choosing not to be imprisoned by the past.
This is generational work. We may not see the resolution in our lifetimes. But we can be faithful in our generation—speaking truth, extending mercy, loving enemies, and working for justice even when the path forward seems impossible.
Update: Moving Forward With Hope
As I write this in October 2025, the ceasefire in Gaza is fragile. Already there have been violations and tensions over compliance with its terms. Major sticking points remain unresolved—Hamas's disarmament, Gaza's future governance, the establishment of a Palestinian state. The path ahead is uncertain and likely long. But here's what I know: God is sovereign over nations and histories. He sees every tear, counts every hair, knows every name. The promises He made to Abraham stand. The commands He gave through Jesus remain. And the Spirit who empowers us to love our enemies is the same Spirit who can bring peace where it seems impossible.
So we pray. We mourn. We serve. We speak truth. We extend mercy. We refuse to dehumanize. We advocate for the vulnerable. We stay engaged even when it's exhausting. We believe that the kingdom of God breaks into even the darkest places.
The question isn't whether you're "pro-Israel" or "pro-Palestine" in some simplistic political sense. The question is: will you be pro-life in the fullest, most Jesus-like way possible? Will you work to protect and care for all of God's children—born and unborn, Israeli and Palestinian, easy to love and hard to love?
That's the challenge before us. And it's also, by God's grace, the opportunity.
A Prayer for Peace
Heavenly Father, our hearts are heavy with the weight of war. We come to You knowing that You see all, feel all, and love beyond our comprehension.
We pray for Israel—for the families still waiting for hostages to come home, for communities traumatized by October 7, for a nation grappling with security and survival. Fulfill Your promises to the descendants of Abraham. Give Israeli leaders wisdom to pursue both security and justice.
We pray for the Palestinian people—for those who've lost family members, homes, and hope in Gaza. For children growing up amid rubble and trauma. For those in the West Bank facing daily hardships. Raise up leaders who genuinely seek their flourishing. Bring justice where there has been oppression.
We pray for Lebanon, still reeling from war with Israel. For Syrian communities caught in spillover violence. For the entire Middle East, that ancient hatreds would give way to Your reconciling love.
Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace. The divisions we cannot cross, You have bridged. The enemies we cannot love, You died for. The peace we cannot make, You have achieved. We ask that Your kingdom would come, Your will would be done in Israel, Palestine, and throughout the region as it is in heaven.
Give us—Your church—courage to speak truth and grace to extend mercy. Protect us from tribalism that chooses sides over people. Keep our hearts tender to all who suffer. Use us as peacemakers, even when the work seems hopeless.
We pray in the name of Jesus, who wept over Jerusalem, who died for His enemies, who rose to make all things new. May that same Spirit animate our prayers and our actions. Amen.
Remember: God is bigger than our politics, wiser than our strategies, and more compassionate than our best attempts at love. Trust Him, even when the news makes that hard.
