Israel protects Druze in Syria – but fails to protect Christians in Gaza and West Bank

The Syrian army entered the Syrian city of Sweida earlier this week amid sectarian fighting between Druze and Bedouins, which reportedly began after Bedouin gunmen assaulted a Druze vegetable vendor on Sunday. Witnesses reported that the government forces joined with the Bedouin in attacking Druze fighters and civilians. More than 300 were killed.

Israel’s own Druze community demanded that Israel intervene to protect their fellow Druze across the border, as videos emerged from Sweida showing regime forces shaving Druze clerics’ moustaches, as well as stepping on Druze flags and pictures of religious clerics. According to reports, “other videos showed Druze fighters beating captured government forces and posing by their bodies.”

“Regime forces shaving Druze clerics’ moustaches”

Israel attacked military facilities and operatives of the Syrian regime on Wednesday, demanding that regime troops withdraw from Sweida. Israel also attacked the a Syrian Defense ministry in Damascus.

Syrian government forces withdrew from Sweida on Wednesday night, saying they had reached a ceasefire with local Druze forces. Syrian security forces are preparing to redeploy to Sweida city to quell fighting. Israel has said it will give the Syrian forces 48 hours to operate in the city.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel will continue to use military means to enforce its two “red lines” in Syria — the demilitarization of the area south of Damascus, near Israel’s border, and the protection of the country’s Druze minority there. Netanyahu said the Damascus regime, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, violated both those red lines in recent days.

Roman Catholic Holy Family Church in Gaza City in 2021 | Photo: Atia Mohammed/Flash90

Church in Gaza hit by Israeli fire

In a tragic development, an Israeli strike has hit Gaza’s sole Catholic church killing three people and injured several on Thursday, according to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, drawing international condemnation.

Out of the Gaza Strip’s population of more than two million, about 1,000 are Christians. Most of them are Orthodox, but according to the Latin Patriarchate, there are about 135 Catholics in the territory.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has expressed its “deep sorrow” over the incident. “Israel never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians,” the ministry said in a statement. “The IDF is examining this incident, the circumstances of which are still unclear, and the results of the investigation will be published transparently.”

This comes at a time the IDF is being accused of not adequately protecting Palestinian Christians from radical settlers in the West Bank.

Let us pray ever more urgently for an end to the conflict in Syria and the war in Gaza. May Israel’s leaders decide with wisdom, and may those who plan the elimination of the Jewish people be defeated. Above all, pray that all will look to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the Prince of Peace, and trust in Him alone.

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