Many European countries led by France and the UK are now in favour of recognizing the Palestinian state without making any concrete requests to Hamas or the Palestinian authorities or mentioning hostages. Additionally, they present a long list of things that Israel expects to do. Meanwhile, Arab countries recently met and in official documents Hamas handed his arms to a group of Palestinian authorities and international observers, demanding Hamas be released all hostages. It has become the world of Topsitterbee.
Hamas poses a threat to every nation.
Arab countries are clearly supportive of the Palestinians. But they know that terrorists do not build a working condition or guarantee that no one will starve. They know that Hamas poses a threat to all nations, not just to Israel but also to Arab countries. They know that a two-state agreement can only be achieved between two functional and reasonable governments, not by fantasizing about a non-existent world.
European countries must listen to Arab leaders, join them in solidarity and make the same demands from Hamas. The release of their own organs and hostages is as a condition on the Palestinian side of treaty or state recognition. It also needs to have a clearer understanding of what is happening on the Palestinian side regarding humanitarian issues. Political influences need to be balanced.
It is understandable that Israel will put pressure on them to feed the people of Gaza.
It is understandable that Israel will pressure them to feed the people of Gaza, but it should not be done without Hamas stealing relief supplies for himself or selling supplies to people (food was freely given).
This is happening now. The German Army (with the help of Jordan) drops food and other relief supplies into the air, but finds them from confirmed evidence because 50-100% is in Hamas’ hands and is not used to feed the hungry.
Hamas has no ability to make this dream a reality.
Why do European countries such as France work together with the UK to understand why Arab state leaders consistently reject work with terrorists driven by unrealistic ideology, when they do not respect enough perspectives to follow Arab state perspectives on their leads? Despite their support for the Palestinian state, why are European countries not aware that Hamas does not have the ability to make this dream a reality?
Let’s not turn a blind eye to injustice on the part of the conflict that we like to support for the Palestinian people. While much justice is needed in the midst of this conflict, we need to start by listening to people close to the situation, neighbors who know the context of history and culture much better than any other distant political force.
We can pray.
Finally, we can help. We can pray that all the greatest impact for peace, the lasting hope for this part of the world, intervenes in a powerful and miraculous way, “those lands and all the Lord’s inherent Jesus will show your mercy and pour out your love on Palestine and Israel.”
The Archbishop and Professor Thomas Paul Schammacher are the president of the International Council of Human Rights (Frankfurt), the president of the International Institute for Religious Freedom (Costa Rica, Vancouver, Bonn), the co-president of the Peace Religion Religion (New York), and the president of the Bon Abraham Centre’s World Peace and Sustainability (BAC). Schirrmacher was the executive director of the World Evangelical Alliance 2021-2024. Prior to that, he served as WEA as the assistant secretary of theological concerns, loyalty and interfaith relations.
