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What would MLK say about the Genocide in Gaza?

What would MLK say about the Genocide in Gaza?

Last updated on: January 20, 2025 at 12:39 am by Rob Dalrymple

What would MLK say about the Genocide in Gaza? 2025-01-18T14:57:39-08:00 Rob Dalrymple

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Today, we recognize Martin Luther King Jr. In his honor, I ask, “What would he say about the war on Gaza?”

Maybe you haven’t heard, but there is a Genocide going on, and in case you didn’t know, it is happening with “our” sanctioning and “our” tax dollars.

So, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., I thought addressing the war on Gaza would be appropriate. I believe that MLK would have been a staunch advocate for ending the Genocide.

NB: When I initially wrote this post–earlier last week–there were some initial reports that a ceasefire deal was in the works. We have since learned that, indeed, a deal has been struck, and a ceasefire is set to begin on Sunday, Jan 19, 2024 (the day before this post goes live).

Do the politicians care about the Genocide?

Well, I am sure that some do. However, the harsh reality is that politics often takes precedence over human suffering. Politicians care about many things, but their political ambitions are often more revered than lives.

Ceasefire now? Why not sooner?

Late last Spring (c. May 2024), Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and a returning of the hostages. Netanyahu subsequently changed that agreement in such a way that he knew that Hamas could not agree. The result is that “Hamas rejected” the agreement.

As with any such negotiations, matters are far more complex than we realize. But a few things are worthy of our consideration.

Hamas will not agree to a ceasefire and the release of the hostages unless it is a permanent ceasefire and an end to all hostilities. The hostages are the one leverage they have.
There are reasons to believe that Netanyahu doesn’t want a ceasefire. Many have suggested that it is not politically expedient for him. After all, he has assured the Israeli people that he will completely destroy Hamas and Gaza. His far-right coalition members (Smotrich and G’vir), among others, want him to see it through.
Much has been written suggesting that Netanyahu wants the war to continue. The assertion is that he needs an ongoing war for his own political survival. Netanyahu has been up on corruption charges (bribery, fraud, and breach of trust) since he was indicted on November 21, 2019. Many have noted that he likely believes that it will be difficult, if not impossible, for Israel to criminalize a sitting Prime Minister, especially at a time of war.

On Monday, January 13, 2024, CNN reported that a ceasefire deal was imminent. Some reports indicate this is the same deal agreed upon last Spring. So why now?

Is it because too many lives have been lost? Is it because the pressure of the world has forced Israel and Hamas to negotiate? Is it because it is the right thing to do?

No, it is because it is politically in the best of those in power in the US.

If a ceasefire is achieved now, both Biden and Trump will claim its success.

EDITORIAL NOTE: this post was written before the ceasefire deal had been struck

Biden will hail it as a victory or at least an accomplishment of his administration. (He can place this right alongside some of his other accomplishments, including the 45,000+ dead in Gaza).

Trump will also claim victory. After all, he threatened that Hamas better release all the hostages by the time he takes office, or there will be “hell to pay.” (Now, one wonders what that might mean. After all, could life in Gaza really be any worse. Arent’t they already paying “hell”?)

EDITORIAL NOTE: As I noted above, more details have arisen since I first composed this post. From my sources, it appears that Trump and his people were the keys to making this deal happen. I will plan to host a livestream in the next week or two to address this more fully. Subscribe to the Determinetruth YouTube page, and you will automatically be notified of upcoming livestreams.

I will also issue a follow-up post regarding the ceasefire on Wed, Jan 22, 2025.

The point is that the Genocide could have ended a long time ago. But those in power didn’t want it to.

Supporters of Israel reply to the claim that it is a genocide by replying:

But, Israel has to destroy Hamas

As we have been saying, Hamas is an ideology, and ideologies cannot be destroyed. They are fed through violence. Hamas likely has more operatives today (they have, among others, 17,000 orphans to recruit from) than they did on October 6, 2023.

But, the people of Gaza deserve it because they voted for Hamas.

The people of Gaza want to live with the hope of a better future and to raise their children with the hope that they may have life and a future, and the Palestinian Authority, which is under the thumb of Israel, did not offer them that.

Did they vote for Hamas because they agreed with Hamas’ agenda of the complete destruction of Israel? I’m sure some did, but it would be hard to deny that the vast majority voted for Hamas because they wanted and maybe even needed a change.

NB: I posed this question, among others, to Palestinian Christian Saleem Anfous.

But, it’s not a genocide

Sure, the question of Genocide is one that history will ultimately decide. I’m sure that many claimed that the Nazis were not committing Genocide either, only to be proven wrong by history. As for me, I don’t want to be on the wrong side of history.

I am convinced that in 10 or maybe 20 years, it will be universally accepted that the destruction of Gaza (2023-2025) was, in fact, a genocide. Affirming such now may not be politically expedient, but the data is pretty clear. Consider:

The International Court of Justice found that a plausible case can be made that Israel is committing Genocide in Gaza in Jan 2024.

Amnesty International issued a 296-page report describing Israel’s Genocide in Gaza.

Human Rights Watch issued a 179-page report on December 19, 2024, claiming it is Genocide.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

NB: they have also issued arrest warrants for some Hamas officials.

The people in Gaza and the West Bank reply:

“Give us Justice, and we’ll take care of Hamas”

I was on a conference call within days of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel with a group of leading Palestinian voices. At one point in the conversation, the inevitable question was raised: “Doesn’t Israel have to destroy Hamas?” One of the Palestinian experts on the call replied with the profound assertion, “Give us justice, and we’ll take care of Hamas.”

It is easy to demonize the other side. Demonizing them makes it much easier to kill them. “They are all terrorists” (and terrorists deserve to be killed).

What is often overlooked in such conversations is that oftentimes terrorists are terrorists because they have exhausted all other options (at least “all” as far as they are concerned). They believe that their only recourse is violence.

Sure, we condemn violence. But it is easy for us to sit back in the luxury of our Western world and pontificate what others should do.

This is no better than the White clergy who wrote to Martin Luther King and exhorted him, “When rights are consistently denied, a cause should be pressed in the courts.” To which MLK replied, “Justice too long delayed is justice denied.”

On this MLK day 2025, I wish to suggest that MLK would be right there with us condemning the Genocide and demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

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About Rob Dalrymple

Rob Dalrymple is married to his wife Toni and is the father of four fabulous children, and two grandchildren. He has been teaching and pastoring for over 34 years at colleges, seminaries, and the local church. He has a PhD in biblical interpretation. He is the author of four books (including Follow the Lamb: A Guide to Reading, Understanding, and Applying the Book of Revelation & Understanding the New Testament and the End Times: Why it Matters) as well as numerous articles and other publications. His commentary on the book of Revelation titled, “Revelation: a Love Story” (Cascade Books, July 2024) has just been released. His new book, Land of Contention: Biblical Narratives and the Struggle for the Holy Land is available now on Amazon or wherever you get your books (hopefully somewhere besides Amazon!) You can read more about the author here.

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