Despite the staggering death toll and human suffering that Israel has inflicted on the Palestinians in Gaza over the past two years, some of our local churchgoers still think that the so-called God's country needs their prayers in support of its current war.

Israel has never been more isolated on the international stage than it is now. For many, Benjamin Netanyahu, the country's prime minister, has become the face of that, according to close observers.

Over the last two years, Israel’s killing of more than 67,000 Palestinians and the scenes of the famine it has inflicted upon Gaza have led to revulsion across the world. In the short term, unless Netanyahu’s government can permanently ban international journalists from reaching Gaza, the increased coverage of what his government has inflicted upon the enclave is likely to cement Israel’s pariah status for some time.

However, Israel’s growing isolation has been apparent for months and in September, Netanyahu appeared to be laying the groundwork for it to continue. Setting out his vision for a future ‘Super Sparta’ – a reference to the martial ancient Greek state – Netanyahu painted a picture of economic and diplomatic isolation and continuous warfare, the observers say.

It did not go down very well. The Israeli stock exchange plummeted almost immediately, and the shekel nosedived against other currencies. The Israel Business Forum, representing 200 of the country’s largest companies, put it quite simply, “We are not Sparta.”                

From that we can see why some of our people think Israel needs their prayers. But, if Israel, which is apparently winning against Hamas, needs our people's prayers, what can we say about the suffering Palestinians?

As Christians, many of our people will no doubt think of the teaching of Jesus in his sermon on the mountain as recorded in the Gospels.

But how many of us can love our enemies, pray for them, forgive them and not repay evil for evil, as the Bible says we should do, in the face of mass killings as the Palestinians are facing?

For good to overcome evil, in this case, means both the Israelis and the Palestinians need help to stop the war, to allow them to sort out their differences.

A first step has been taken with the ceasefire and exchange of hostages and prisoners. Still, reports say Israel faces charges of genocide before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and its prime minister faces charges of corruption, so it may not be so keen to end the war.

Both sides need our people's prayers. 

Ia manuia lava le vaiaso fou.