Church of England House of Bishops Accuse IDF of ‘Grave Sin’ in Gaza War

Bishops ignore Hamas Terrorists in calls for peace

COMMENTARY

By David W. Virtue, DD

June 17, 2025

The Church of England’s House of Bishops recently issued a statement regarding the war in Gaza, brazenly accusing the IDF in Gaza of ‘a grave sin that violently assaults God-given human dignity and the very integrity of God’s creation.’

Now that is a very heavy theological statement to make, and, based on the prevailing evidence, is clearly very one-sided, if not completely untrue.

There was no mention of assaulting the ‘God-given dignity’ of Israelis who responded to the vicious attack on the ‘God-given dignity’ of 1,200 Israelis slaughtered with 250 taken hostage, in the worst single attack on Jews since the Holocaust.

The bishops did say that nothing justifies the heinous terror attacks committed by Hamas on October 7 2023. “In such circumstances nations have a right to self-defence in line with international law, and to hold perpetrators to account.”

But that was the extent of it. The onus now is all on Israel to stop the war. The HOB decried the Government of Israel’s bombing of the Anglican Al Ahli Hospital, “we cry out in protest at the death, destruction and suffering that men, women and children have endured in Gaza, Israel and the region these last 20 months.”

However, there is overwhelming evidence that Israel did not bomb the hospital. The explosion that killed and injured many civilians at al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza on October 17, 2023, resulted from an apparent rocket-propelled munition, such as those commonly used by Palestinian armed groups, that hit the hospital grounds, Human Rights Watch said. The HOB should check its facts before blaming Israel.

“We have watched with horror and outrage as siege and starvation are used as a weapon of war in Gaza, and as hospitals and health facilities have been systematically targeted. Over the last three months, the Israeli government’s deliberate denial of food and medical aid to an entire civilian population is an atrocity that defies our common humanity. It is the very definition of collective punishment and has no moral justification.”

The truth is Israel has not starved Gazans, especially children. Hamas has taken the food for its war machine and sold much of it at exorbitant prices to the people of Gaza forcing Israel to take measures so the people can get the food directly. Nowhere has the IDF “systematically targeted” health and hospital facilities. They have studiously avoided doing precisely that with precision targeted bombings at tunnels just outside hospitals and going inside to attack tunnels directly under the hospitals.

“We note that the Israeli Government has been challenged before the International Court of Justice.” South Africa also accused Israel of genocide in the Gaza war. Israel called South Africa's case "wholly unfounded" and "morally repugnant,” accusing South Africa of bringing "biased and false claims."

The bishops said; “the Government of Israel has shown through its statements and actions that this is no longer a defensive war, but a war of aggression. We strongly affirm that the Palestinian inhabitants of Gaza and the West Bank have a right to live in peace and security in their homeland. Any forced displacement of people would constitute an egregious breach of international humanitarian law.”

The real aggressors are Hamas who refuse to hand over the hostages thus prolonging the war. They have lost nearly all their commanders, and if the remaining foot soldiers laid down their arms peace would reign. But there will be no peace or security as long as there is one Hamas terrorist living.

“We call on all sides to end the war.” Well how has that worked out? Hamas has made so many unrealistic demands and conditions that any country in its right mind would never accept. Israel has refused. Release of the hostages is condition No.1. Furthermore, Hamas has no interest in ending the war because world opinion is on their side. Keeping it going is a win for them.

“We welcome the British Government’s decision (May 20 2025) to suspend negotiations with the Israeli government on a new free trade agreement. Fueling this war by the selling of arms to Israel does not serve the ends of peace consistent with international humanitarian law. Governments should now formally recognise Palestine as a sovereign and independent state. To delay further invites despair.”

And why is Iran not condemned for fueling arms and money into Gaza to support Hamas? How one-sided is that? Recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state is NOT what Iran, the PA or Hamas wants. The two-state solution is a fiction. These groups want a one state – Palestine - with Israel pushed into the Mediterranean Sea. Iran has been screaming “death to Israel” for as long as I can remember.

Hatred of Israel is at the root of the House of Bishops claims. If the bishops want to cite “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” (Matt. 5:9) they should start with Hamas not Israel. Ending the war is a fiction while Hamas holds some cards and continues to use the hostages as pawns for their own ambitions.

END