“The Palestinian Child”
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.— Isaiah 9:6-7
When trauma is inflicted upon the most vulnerable in the name of the pride of nationalism, we know that we live in a broken world. When children suffer as collateral damage resulting from armed conflict, we know that we live in a broken world. When children are tried as adults in military courts or detention systems, we know that we live in a broken world. When children are not only tried as adults in military courts or detention systems, but are also physically abused, hand tied, blindfolded, taken from their homes in the middle of the night, are verbally abused, are subjected to intimidation and humiliation, are subjected to stress positions, and are made to sign documents that are written in a language that they do not understand, we know that we definitely live in a broken and dark world. This is the type of abuse to which Palestinian children are subjected to when they are tried as adults in the Israeli military detention system. A recent report (https://nwttac.dci-palestine.org/hr4391_factsheet_military_detention) shows that Palestinian children are subjected to inhumane treatment by the Israeli military in the following ways:
- 73 percent of children experience physical violence following arrest
- 95 percent of children are hand tied
- 86 percent of children are blindfolded
- 49 percent of children are detained from their homes in the middle of the night
- 64 percent of children face verbal abuse, humiliation, or intimidation
- 74 percent of children are not properly informed of their rights
- 96 percent of children are interrogated without the presence of a family member
- 20 percent of children are subject to stress positions
- 49 percent of children are made to sign documents in Hebrew, a language most
- Palestinian children don’t understand
It is no wonder why those who do not have the privilege of faith deny the existence of God in the face of such darkness, injustice, and abuse. It is not surprising that many of us who do have the privilege of faith ask where God is or why God remains idle in the midst of such brokenness and darkness. Advent is a season in which the Spirit of God inspires us and guides us to prepare, both individually and communally, for the coming of the child who brings hope, mercy, justice, healing and light into this dark and broken reality of our world. As we embark on our Advent journey, let us not forget that that child was also born in Palestinian land. Let us not forget that that child was also subjected to violence and systemic persecution by those who commanded military might. As we live into our Advent journey, let us not forget that that child is present in the very Palestinian children that are subjected to abuse. Our United Methodist Church is inviting us to respond by raising our voices against this abuse of Palestinian children by taking the following ACTION during the first week of Advent. If you haven’t done so already, please take a moment to take action in support of the rights of children in Palestine. Do so as a part of your devotion today. Do so prayerfully and worshipfully. If you have done so already, please share it with someone who has not.
closing prayer:
God of light and wholeness. We mourn the darkness and brokenness of our world. We mourn the abuse of those most vulnerable in our world. We mourn the abuse of children in armed conflicts such as the one raging on Palestine. We ask for the guidance of your Spirit as we seek to live into our Advent journey. Grant us the power that we need to prepare our hearts and lives to receive the child whose authority will grow continually and who will bring endless peace to our world.