When it comes to Israel and Palestine, emotions run high. The conflict is complex, layered with history, politics, suffering, and pain. For many, the temptation is to side with whichever narrative seems most convincing—whether political, cultural, or media-driven.
But for followers of Jesus, our view of Israel cannot be built on headlines or personal sympathies. It must be anchored in the Word of God, the example of Jesus, and the prophetic storyline revealed through Scripture.
This comes down to three convictions: being pro-Jesus, pro-Bible, and pro-Israel. These are not political slogans, but spiritual commitments rooted in God’s sovereign election.
1. Pro-Jesus: The Foundation of Our Perspective
The starting point is always Jesus.
Jesus is not just the Messiah of Israel—He is the King of all nations. In Him, every promise of God finds its “yes and amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). He fulfills the Law and the Prophets, embodies God’s covenant love, and will one day return to rule from Jerusalem.
To be pro-Jesus means interpreting Israel, Palestine, and the Church through His heart:
A heart for reconciliation, justice, and mercy.
A longing for salvation for all peoples.
A recognition that Jesus is the God who chose Israel at Sinai, who called them to be a light to the nations, and who will return as the Prince of Peace.
Everything else must flow from Him.
2. Pro-Bible: Reading the Whole Story
Being pro-Bible means taking Scripture in its full narrative arc, from Genesis to Revelation.
The Bible shows us:
God’s unchanging covenant with Israel.
Israel’s temporary hardening for the sake of the Gentiles (Romans 11).
The promise of Israel’s future restoration.
The Church has not replaced Israel. Instead, Gentiles have been grafted into the covenant family of God. Israel still carries a unique role in His redemptive plan.
And this helps us avoid three dangerous extremes:
a. Replacement Theology
Erasing Israel’s significance, claiming the Church has taken over all her promises.
b. Blind Nationalism
Endorsing everything Israel does politically or militarily, without recognizing her need for repentance and salvation.
Real Example: Evaluating Israel’s Actions
In June 2025, a UN inquiry reported that Israeli forces committed crimes against humanity—including “extermination”—by bombing civilians sheltering in schools, destroying Gaza’s medical facilities, and restricting aid.(Reuters)
Similarly, in August 2025, the world’s food security authority declared a famine in Gaza, with over half a million facing starvation due to Israel’s blockade of aid.(AP News)
And on August 27, 2025, Israeli airstrikes hit Nasser Hospital, killing at least 20 people—including journalists—in what the UN condemned as potential war crimes.(The Guardian)
These incidents remind us that supporting Israel’s election does not mean endorsing every action. True discernment recognizes their need for repentance and salvation.
c. Undiscerning Compassion – When Emotion Is Exploited for Strategy
Compassion for suffering is a biblical virtue. But when it’s rooted in manipulated narratives—especially those strategically fashioned by Hamas—it becomes dangerous rather than redemptive.
It’s possible to swing so far into sympathy for suffering Palestinians that compassion replaces discernment. This often looks pastoral on the surface—“standing with the broken”—but it is easily shaped by media narratives, activist movements, and incomplete truths. Without realising it, Christians can end up joining in false accusations against Israel, ignoring systemic leadership corruption and spiritual realities behind the conflict.
Yes, Palestinian suffering is real and must not be denied. But if compassion is detached from God’s storyline, it becomes partial truth and partial truth can lead us into deception.
True biblical compassion holds both realities together: grieving for the oppressed, while still honouring God’s covenant with Israel.
Real-World Example:
Hamas’s Strategic Use of Civilian Suffering
Hamas deliberately harnesses human tragedy to manipulate public sentiment and international media. According to HonestReporting, Hamas exerts tight control over journalists in Gaza, instructing them not to report on Palestinians injured by Hamas rockets and to attribute all civilian casualties to Israeli strikes.
Their “media protocols” actively shape the narrative to cast Israel as the sole aggressor. HonestReporting
Moreover, Hamas’s propaganda strategy—colloquially known as “the worse, the better”—leads it to place military assets within civilian infrastructures like schools, hospitals, and mosques. When attacks strike these areas, the resulting suffering is broadcast globally with no acknowledgment of Hamas’s role. For disciples of Jesus, this reminds us that compassion must be partnered with discernment. Otherwise, we risk aligning with propaganda rather than truth. Israel Institute of NZ propastop.org
As one opinion piece highlights, Israel has facilitated record amounts of aid into Gaza—yet is still blamed for the humanitarian crisis. In reality, Hamas often diverts or weaponizes that aid, while fueling the narrative of Palestinian suffering to pressure Israel.
This is because Hamas intercepts, steals, or resells humanitarian aid, then hypes the suffering narrative abroad to intensify international pressure on Israel. The Washington Post
3. Pro-Israel: Agreeing with God’s Election
Being pro-Israel is NOT about endorsing every policy or military action. It’s about agreeing with God’s sovereign choice.
Scripture calls Israel:
“The apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8).
A people to be comforted (Isaiah 40:1–2).
A city to be prayed for (Psalm 122:6).
God’s covenant with Israel was never based on their perfection. It was based on His faithfulness. To be pro-Israel means recognizing their flaws, yet affirming God’s election and longing for their awakening to Jesus as Messiah.
4. Pro-Salvation: God’s Heart for All Nations
Supporting God’s covenant with Israel does not mean ignoring the nations around them. God’s heart is for both Israel and Palestine, and beyond.
The Gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes—first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16). God desires all to repent (2 Peter 3:9).
So while we stand with Israel’s election, we also cry out for revival among Palestinians, Jordanians, Lebanese, Syrians, and every surrounding nation. And in His wisdom, God is using the salvation of the nations to stir Israel to jealousy, ultimately drawing her back to Jesus (Romans 11:11–14).
5. The Prophetic Dimension: God’s Faithfulness in History
Israel’s re-establishment as a nation in 1948 was not a historical accident—it was a prophetic sign, echoing Ezekiel 37 and other promises of restoration.
Today’s conflicts mirror the ancient cycles seen throughout Israel’s history: territorial battles, spiritual decline, divine discipline, and eventual restoration.
The Scriptures point to a coming day when Israel, though now largely unbelieving, will experience national salvation—especially after the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7), leading into the return of Jesus.
Romans 11:29 assures us: “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” God has not abandoned His covenant.
6. The Church’s Call: Watch, Pray, Prepare
What does this mean for us as the global Church?
We are called to:
Pray for shalom—peace rooted in Jesus, not just absence of war.
Intercede for justice and an end to violence and terrorism.
Comfort both Jews and Arabs who suffer.
Cry out for salvation across the Middle East.
We must mature into our prophetic calling—as intercessors, witnesses, and forerunners preparing the way of the Lord. This requires discernment, humility, and faithfulness. We cannot afford to be swayed by shallow narratives or earthly ideologies.
Conclusion: Aligning with God’s Storyline
At the end of the day, this is not about picking sides in politics—it is about aligning with God’s eternal storyline.
Jesus Himself declared that He will not return until Jerusalem says: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:39). Until that day, the Church must stay faithful—loving what He loves, praying as He leads, and preparing for His return. This is not about geopolitical sides, but about training our hearts to see history as God does.
Our discipleship must be prophetic, prayerful, and rooted in His Word until the King returns.
To be pro-Jesus, pro-Bible, and pro-Israel is to agree with God’s sovereign election, honor His covenant promises, and embrace His redemptive plan for all nations.
In short:
Israel’s election is not canceled, not replaceable, and not political—it is covenantal. And as the Church, our role is to stand in that truth, with compassion and discernment, until the King returns to Zion.
