From Holocaust to Modern Conflict: What History Teaches Us About Hamas & Gaza

About this sermon

I’m coming to you from the heart of Jerusalem, standing in front of Yad Vashem, the Global Holocaust Remembrance Center. This sacred ground reminds us of what happens when hatred, racism, and evil go unchecked. As I reflect here, I want to bring a perspective that may seem counterintuitive: the atrocities committed by Hamas are not only against Israel, but also against Palestinians themselves. This week, Hamas executed three Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel—a reminder that evil rarely announces itself fully at the start, but grows gradually, snowballing into unimaginable tragedy. Seeing the suffering in Gaza, it’s easy to be emotionally overwhelmed. We cry out, “Stop!” and rightly so—but stopping alone is not enough. True resolution comes from addressing the roots of hatred, breaking cycles of indoctrination, and preventing future attacks. History teaches us that anti-Semitism begins somewhere but rarely ends there; evil can spread unchecked if moral clarity and courageous voices do not rise early to intervene. During my time here in Jerusalem, I’ve seen firsthand the complexity of the Middle East. From the Oslo Accords to repeated attacks, Israel has had to defend its citizens while striving for peace. The wall that many criticize is a symbol of protection that halted suicide bombings decades ago. Our responsibility as observers, as Christians, and as global citizens is to learn from history, speak truth boldly, and pray for solutions that prevent hatred from restarting yet again. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction from Jerusalem 00:17 - Standing in Front of Yad Vashem 00:40 - Lessons from the Holocaust on Hatred and Evil 01:15 - Hamas’ Execution of Palestinians 02:05 - Why Evil Spreads Beyond One Group 02:50 - Empathy for Those Suffering in Gaza 03:30 - History of Oslo Accords and the Intifada 04:15 - Israel’s Security Measures and the Wall 05:00 - The Importance of Moral Clarity and Speaking Out 05:45 - Concluding Reflections on Hatred and Prevention Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertrstearns/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertrstearns/ Don't forget to PUSH THE BELL to get NOTIFICATIONS of new and upcoming videos.