ISHWORLD: The International Search for Humanity

JULY 10, 2026

881 Words

When bombs and earthquakes send the same signal to humanity 

By Ishmael-Lateef Ahmad

Columnist-at-Large 

One could argue the destruction wrought by bombs in Gaza and earthquakes in Venezuela could serve to teach humanity lessons in inhumanity. Both tools, one could say, have done their jobs.

The earthquakes that first struck Venezuela on June 24 have gripped the nation and the world for weeks. With an official death toll of more than 3,500 and rising, authorities continue to search through the rubble of hundreds if not thousands of collapsed buildings for tens of thousands of missing people. And with each passing day, prayers for the living are turning into prayers for the souls of the dead and dying, many yet to be found.

Far beyond the three-day window of survivability, hope is beginning to fade for those buried beneath the stone, concrete, metal, wood and glass rubble in South America. Rescue teams from around the world have responded in efforts to save anybody who may still be alive, but for the grace of God.

Even so, rescue efforts are turning into recovery efforts with each passing day. And like the bodies of the dead in Gaza that have yet to be recovered, the same fate appears to await the thousands missing in the rubble of collapsed buildings in Venezuela.

Much like the bombs dropped in Palestine since late 2023 and which decimated Gaza – killing more than 73,000 men, women and children –  the shifting crust of Mother Earth appears to have resulted in similar visions of indiscriminate power.

That power, either at the hands of man or the hands of God (or the force of nature as some would say) gives world leaders a glimpse into powers they control and powers they cannot control.

Some might even argue that while bombs can destroy and carry out indiscriminate revenge, the forces of nature can do likewise, only without revenge – but just because. The politics of war among humans makes for a complex maze of tit for tat, showmanship and bravado. I suggest Mother Nature plays by a different set of rules.

The purpose between man’s killing vs. death at the hand of God is not the same. Wiping out the dinosaurs may appear to be indiscriminate yet without their living and dying, there would be no oil to move our machines from here to there. Perhaps, there could be a design to their coming and going. It is through destruction that creation finds its value. While, yes, fossil fuels are being used in a way that is destroying the earth, as mankind we must adapt to find the good that surfaces from the bad, and use that good to further and perpetuate the good of progress. The good of humanity.

And the lifespans of humans tells me that God built us for birth and death. So, our passing is also part of divine construction. However, when it comes to humans attacking humans, the only difference is that when attackers indiscriminately kill humans it is not our job to indiscriminately kill innocents in return. Lawful punishment calls for the killers to either go to prison and even face execution, not for the deaths of thousands of innocents as part of the lawful punishment. That scenario is in God’s hands, and in the case of Venezuela, is carried out with earthquakes. To punish the innocent for the indiscretions of others is not our job. And while the overkill of innocents is often the rule, that does not make it right.

The October 7, 2023 attack on a concert in Israel that left some 1,200 dead and more than 250 taken hostage was the reason given for the destruction of Gaza. Later, the February 2026 attack by Israel and the United States on Iran, reportedly a Palestinian supporter, left the leader of Iran – Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – dead. Recently, his funeral was held in Iran and was attended by leaders from around the world, according to media reports. Their presence appears to be sending a message that enough is enough. Despite several failed attempts, this may be the time to make a real and lasting peace between Iran, Israel and the United States.

I hope that message is the true message being sent by world leaders. With the approach of the Third World War upon us (as some believe) dropping bombs on innocent men, women and children must end. Yes, fight the aggressors but spare the non-combatants.

We are not God and not earthquakes. We have a right to self-defense, but overkill is not a right given to humanity. No matter how we say it, think it or try to do it, the numbers are not adding up – more than 73,000 dead in Gaza and the Left Bank against between 3,535 earthquake dead and potentially 50,000 missing and soon to be presumed dead in Venezuela.

Are we trying to compete with God?

I think we will one day run out of bombs, but God will never run out of ways to remake the earth and the universe, and create other, better worlds.

(ISHWORLD: The International Search for Humanity is a complimentary column created and distributed to media by freelance journalist Ishmael-Lateef Ahmad. Based in St. Louis, Mo., he can be reached via ishworldcolumn@gmail.com or his website at https://payhip.com/ISHWORLDcolumns)



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