In this post, we will discuss the theological roots of the Hamas-Israel conflict. We must reflect on its historical origins. During World War II, the region of Palestine was under a single protectorate governed by Western powers, with no internal division. In the World War II aftermath, the extermination of a large number of Jews in Germany created a demand for a Jewish homeland. Consequently, the United States and the UK made a plan to establish an Israeli state in Palestine. Ultimately, in 1947, the United Nations created the state of Israel. The West Bank of the River Jordan, the Golan Heights, and the Gaza Strip were not part of Israel and were governed by Jordan and Lebanon, respectively.
Then came the Six-Day War, in which the Arab nations and Israel fought, resulting in the defeat of the Arab countries. Subsequently, Israel annexed the West Bank, a large part of the Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights, thus shaping the present borders of the state of Israel.
The trigger for creating Israel was the Holocaust, the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler to exterminate the Jews. Logically, then, the Israeli state should have been established in Germany, where the atrocities took place. However, the Western powers ignored this central question: why should the people of Palestine be punished for atrocities committed by Germany? Nevertheless, the state of Israel was created, it fought a war in 1956 and now exists with an expanded border.
To understand the roots of this conflict, we must look back in history. The Jewish claim to the land of Israel is based on the belief that God promised them this land, a belief rooted in verse 15:18 of Genesis: “The Lord made a covenant with Abraham, saying, ‘To your descendants, I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.'” Basing themselves on this verse, Jews insisted on the creation of the state of Israel in Palestine because they believed it was divinely sanctioned. As a compromise, they did not claim the entire expanse but took a central portion. This covenant was further confirmed in Genesis 17:2, which states, “I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” The Jewish case rests primarily on these verses from Genesis, asserting that because God Himself granted them this land, they cannot accept any other place for their homeland.
However, the Bible was written down around the 6th century BCE, approximately 2,600 years ago, while Abraham lived around 2,000 BCE. For about 1,400 years, the Bible was transmitted orally, during which numerous changes could have occurred. It is impossible to determine precisely what alterations may have taken place.
One significant issue is that if God is the deity of all humanity, as Jews believe, then He is also the God of the Arab people. How could one God grant Arab land to the Jews?
Additionally, soon after making this covenant with Abraham, God changed his name from Abram (A-B-R-A-M) to Abraham (A-B-R-A-H-A-M). Linguists suggest that the addition of the syllable “H” signifies massiveness, expansion, and largess. The transformation from Abram to Abraham indicates that whatever was promised to Abram now belongs to Abraham’s entire followers. In other words, the land was given not just to the Jewish people biologically but to all followers of Abraham who believed in one God. God granted this land to all who follow the monotheistic faith.
The Bible recounts another incident involving Abraham’s grandson Jacob. While traveling from Beersheba to Haran, Jacob stopped to rest, using a stone as a pillow. In a dream, God said to him, “The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you and your descendants after you” (Genesis 35:12). The term “descendants” (Hebrew: Zera) can also mean “moral followers.” These verses, therefore, can be interpreted to mean the land was given to Abraham and Jacob and all their followers.
It is repugnant to say that a just God would support one group of followers by forcibly taking land from another group of followers especially since the Canaanites had not done any wrong to the Jews.
The Bible presents conflicting descriptions of the promised land. In Genesis 15:18, God promises Abraham land from the “river of Egypt to the Euphrates.” During the Exodus, God tells Moses the land extends from the “Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines,” which is a different and smaller area. This change in borders suggests possible redactions in the biblical text. It cannot be said that God promised the land of Palestine to the Jews.
Another issue arises from the names of God used in these promises. Elohim, the all-encompassing God, differs from Yahweh, the personal God of Israel. The promise was made by Lord God or “Elohim Yahweh”, rather than Elohim, indicating that the One God did not give the land to the Jews. Rather, one of the many gods, namely, YHWH gave the land to the Jews. YHWH is not binding on the Arabs of Palestine.
Social media often presents two justifications for the conquest of Canaan by the Jews: child sacrifice and idol worship. However, Abraham himself was asked to sacrifice his son, and Jacob’s family took idols when fleeing Laban. These points suggest that conquest based on these reasons is not justified.
The Arab Problem
The central dispute revolves around whether the Jews’ invasion and occupation of Canaan, leading to the displacement of Palestinians, is theologically justified—which it is not. However, the Arab world is divided. Saudi Arabia, under Prince Muhammad bin Salman, advocates for a softer approach and normalization of relations with Israel. Iran, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, supports a more confrontational stance, including backing groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
The Quran advises standing firm for justice (4:135) and encourages believers to do what is right and forbid what is wrong (3:110). These verses support a non-compromising Palestinian quest for justice. Saudi Arabia and Iran need to unify their strategies, potentially mediated by spiritual leaders.
In conclusion, understanding the theological roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is crucial. A unified Arab strategy and Western recognition of historical injustices can help pave the way for peace and development for all parties involved.
Spotify link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bharat-jjj/episodes/Religious-root-of-the-Hamas-Israel-war-e2m1i6n
Youtube link: https://youtu.be/I5aOVY3SKUQ?si=N8yqKehf9qPeVhQQ
For discussion join us at: https://chat.whatsapp.com/ISkPODp1TES9Vw0Ud33Kkc