A Christian man was violently attacked by a rapid mob of pro-Hamas supporters on Sunday. Did this happen in Gaza? No, it happened in Skokie, Illinois.
Peter Christos, a believer who works for Turning Point USA, was helping escort a lost, elderly Jewish couple to a pro-Israel rally, along with a TPUSA co-worker, when they came into contact with a group of pro-Hamas agitators.
“I was punched repeatedly, kicked in the head, and hit with a flagpole,” Christos tweeted after the violent attack. “This is being Pro-Israel in 2023.”
The police had to pull Christos, his colleague and the elderly Jewish couple to safety.
X users reacted strongly to this altercation and the rising persecution of not only Jews, but also Christians in America.
“I am so sorry. Such utter hatred. This is what the world looks like without the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit filling our lives,” KittyAnn78 tweeted in response.
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, is calling for law enforcement to respond. “All of these thugs need to be arrested and charged with hate crimes,” he tweeted on the X platform.
Another X user named Sheryl Thomson made a connection between the pro-terrorist sympathizers, who care about the Gaza-Israel border, and the open southern border of the U.S. “Americans better start thinking about their own borders.”
The antisemitism that is erupting in America creates a new challenge for Bible-believing Christians. Not only can Christians be swept up in the discriminatory attacks by pro-Hamas thugs against anyone who is seen as a sympathizer of Israel, but Christians will also have to make decisions whether to continue to stand with Israel and Jewish people in the face of such intimidation.
The hatred in the hearts of pro-Hamas, pro-terrorist supporters despise Judeo-Christian values. They clearly want to intimidate and extend the “terror,” which Hamas has created, onto the streets of the United States. Broadly speaking, Bible-believing Christians are seen as aligned with the Jewish people and Israel.
Yesterday in Skokie, myself & @TPUSA coworker were violently attacked by Pro-Hamas protestors while trying to escort a lost, elderly Jewish couple to the Pro-Israel event.
I was punched repeatedly, kicked in the head, and hit with a flagpole.
This is being Pro-Israel in 2023. pic.twitter.com/IYRePuiPxX
— Peter Christos (@peterchristos) October 23, 2023
The conflict in Israel—along with conflicted feelings and demonic forces— is spilling over to American soil. Is it a signal for more Christians to urgently pray for God’s protection, pray for peace and prepare themselves with intelligent self-defense measures? {eoa}
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Anthony Hart is a freelance writer.
