Living Hell?

by John Stossel Who is standing for life? by Daniel Gardner, Special to the Gazette Celebrating the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ in remembrance of God’s amazing love for us inevitably draws my thoughts to the Holy Land today. Approximately 3,000 years ago Philistines, ancestors of today’s Paliestinians, fought against Israel. They sent their champion, Goliath to taunt the soldiers of Israel. Only one, David, son of Jesse, responded to the giant’s challenge. The battle between David and Goliath has become a byword for the battle of human sacrifice and death vs. God’s way, truth, and life. The battle for the land of Israel has been ongoing for thousands of years and is as bitter as it has ever been. In Douglas Murray’s latest book, “On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization,” Murray quotes Hamas official Ghazi Hamad in an interview he gave to Lebanese channel LBC TV about two weeks after October 7, 2023. Hamad said, “Israel is a country that has no place on our land.” Hamad continued, “We are the victims of the occupation; therefore, nobody should blame us for the things we do…. Everything we do is justified.” The reporter asked, “Occupation where? In the Gaza Strip?” Hamad replied, “No. I’m talking about all the Palestinian lands.” The reporter asked, “Does that mean the annihilation of Israel?” “Yes, of course,” Hamad replied, before continuing: “The existence of Israel is illogical. The existence of Israel is what causes all that pain, blood, and tears. It is Israel, not us. We are the victims of the occupation. Period. Therefore, nobody should blame us for the things we do. On October 7, October 10, October 1,000,000— everything we do is justified.” The terrorist organization Hamas had pulled off the deadliest surprise attack in Israel’s history. It certainly surprised government officials along with Israel Defense Force leaders! But the next day “spontaneous” protests between Israel and Palestinian supporters broke out across America. Pro-Palestinian protests dominated news coverage as they rallied from coast to coast particularly on college campuses. In America the barbaric war in the Middle East is not so much about political policies, but about life and death values. Murray wrapped up his book this way: “All my adult life I had heard the taunt of the jihadists. ‘We love death more than you love life.’ I had heard it from al-Qaeda, from Hamas, from ISIS.” “How could anyone overcome a movement—a people—who welcomed death, who gloried in death, who worshipped death?” Then, after thinking about leaders and soldiers who had beaten this cult of death, he wrote, “They did it not because they loved death but exactly because they love life. They fought for life. For the survival of their families, their nation, and their people.” “‘Choose life’ is one of the most important commandments of the Jewish people. It is also one of the fundamental values of the West. They, and all of us, can win in spite of the enemy loving death. Because there is nothing wrong with loving life so much. It is the basis on which civilization can win.” The battle is literally about life and death. Who values life more than “their death?” Violence and lawlessness appear to be on the rise again in America. Who is calling for the deaths of others? Who is standing for life? Page A2 Thursday, April 24, 2025 MAGNOLIA GAZETTE

STOSSEL