4 Hours of Instagram Reels Depicting the War in Gaza

Christian Zionists likely outnumber Israeli Zionists due to the large evangelical Christian population, particularly in the U.S., where 20-30 million embrace Christian Zionism, driven by beliefs about Israel’s role in end-times prophecy. In contrast, Israel’s population is about 9.3 million, with roughly 70% (6-7 million) identifying as Zionist or supporting the Jewish state, a smaller number globally. Modern Zionism, a political movement for a Jewish homeland founded by Theodor Herzl in the late 19th century, is not directly biblical, rooted instead in secular nationalism. Christian Zionists often cite Genesis 12:3 and apocalyptic prophecies to justify support for Israel, but these interpretations are debated, as the Bible doesn’t explicitly endorse a modern nation-state or its policies. Critics argue Zionism’s political actions, like land disputes, conflict with biblical principles such as justice and love for neighbors, while supporters tie it to God’s covenant with Israel, making the connection a matter of theological interpretation rather than a clear biblical mandate.

In the Book of Galatians, Paul addresses the relationship between faith, the Law, and God’s promises, which some argue undermines the theological basis for Zionism, particularly Christian Zionism. Here’s a concise analysis:

Galatians 3:16-29: Paul emphasizes that God’s promise to Abraham (“to your seed”) refers to Christ, not a specific ethnic or national group. He argues that through faith in Christ, all believers—Jew and Gentile—become heirs to Abraham’s promise (3:28-29: “There is neither Jew nor Greek... for you are all one in Christ Jesus”). This challenges the idea that a specific land or nation-state (modern Israel) is central to God’s plan, as the promise is fulfilled spiritually in Christ, not through physical descent or geography.
Galatians 4:21-31: Paul uses the allegory of Hagar and Sarah to contrast the old covenant (Law, tied to physical Jerusalem) with the new covenant (freedom in Christ, tied to the “Jerusalem above”). He suggests that the physical city and ethnic Israel are not the ultimate focus of God’s redemptive plan, which conflicts with Zionist emphasis on the land and Jewish state as divinely ordained.
Implications for Zionism: Paul’s argument in Galatians prioritizes faith in Christ over ethnic or territorial claims, weakening the biblical basis for Zionism’s focus on a physical Jewish homeland. Christian Zionists often rely on Old Testament promises about land, but Galatians reframes these as fulfilled in Christ and the church, not a modern nation-state. Critics of Zionism use this to argue that tying God’s plan to modern Israel misinterprets scripture, while supporters might counter that Galatians doesn’t negate God’s promises to physical Israel entirely.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facilitated the transfer of Qatari funds to Gaza, indirectly supporting Hamas, as part of a strategy to keep Palestinians divided and prevent a unified Palestinian state. Between 2012 and 2018, he approved around $1 billion in Qatari cash transfers to Gaza, with roughly half going to Hamas, including its military wing, often through suitcases delivered via Israel. This was intended to weaken the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank by strengthening Hamas in Gaza, as Netanyahu reportedly said in 2019, “Anyone who wants to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state has to support bolstering Hamas and transferring money to Hamas.” Israel also increased work permits for Gazans (from 2,000-3,000 in 2021 to nearly 20,000 in 2023), which kept money flowing into Hamas-controlled Gaza. The Shin Bet later revealed that some of these funds were diverted to Hamas’s military buildup, contributing to the October 7, 2023, attack. Netanyahu has denied directly funding Hamas, claiming the money was for humanitarian purposes, but critics argue this policy strengthened Hamas, backfiring on Israel.

Sgt. Shalom Sheetrit, an IDF soldier from the Golani Brigade, testified to the Israeli Knesset that his unit received a “strange” order from a deputy battalion commander to cancel a critical patrol near the Gaza fence at 5:20 a.m. on October 7, 2023, an hour before Hamas breached the border. An audiotape of the order was presented, with the commander stating he didn’t know why the order was issued. Sheetrit suggested this allowed Hamas to attack unopposed initially, though he didn’t claim a deliberate stand-down. This was reported by Israeli News 7, The Young Turks, and The Cradle

Incase you think I'm being antisemetic, I'm a centrist; who just watched the US Government refuse to release the epstein files without aggressive redactions. Protect the kids, right?