The "Palestinians" in Gaza today have no connection with the biblical Philistines (like the Assyrians being distinct from Syrians).

I'm not sure what you are getting at. I don't think the article claimed that modern Palestinians are direct descendants of the Philistines.

No record or archeological evidence have ever been found of the Philistines in the land of Israel. No record of their ancient kings, no ancient Philistine coin or pottery.

This statement flies in the face of everything I think I've ever read on Biblical archaeology. As the article above states, for example, there has been a lot of archaeological work done on the sites of the ancient Philistine cities, and a great deal of artifacts have indeed been found, as well as ancient Philistine graves from which DNA samples have been taken. See also: [biblicalarchaeology.org]

By the way, the article also actually had a picture of ancient Philistine pottery.

@KeithThroop
I don't think the article claimed that modern Palestinians are direct descendants of the Philistines.

I was talking about the narrative being spun by the "Palestinians" in Gaza, not about the article. This narrative is what is being taken as common knowledge by people everywhere.

As the article above states, for example, there has been a lot of archaeological work done on the sites of the ancient Philistine cities, and a great deal of artifacts have indeed been found, as well as ancient Philistine graves from which DNA samples have been taken.

In Crete, maybe, but not in Israel, as I've qualified my statement with. The Philistines were a sea-faring people who raided Jewish seaside towns.

@eschatologyguy I noticed that you qualified your statement with the phrase "in the land of Israel," but I guess that would depend upon which era of Israelite history we were speaking about.In the early period of the Judges, for example, "Judah took Gaza with its territory, Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory" (Jdg. 1:18 NKJ). And later, both David and Hezekiah apparently subdued some of the coastal land belonging to the Philistines and dominated them for some time. So, there were periods in which at least some of their towns and lands were under Israelite control, including at least a few of their major cities. I agree, though, that the Philistines remained independent and a thorn in the side of Israel for the most part.

I have noticed that now, however, you seem to restrict the finding of Philistine artifacts to Crete rather than Israel? I won't quibble about how to understand “Israel” in this context, however. It seems we may have been inadvertently talking past one another a bit on that point. I will just ask, for clarification, Do you believe that there were ancient Philistine city-states on the Mediterranean coast that bordered Israel? And do you believe that we have found artifacts from these ancient city-states?

@KeithThroop Got my information from a "Palestinian" from Gaza - who was talking about the "Palestinians" - his own people - and not the biblical Philistines, which are in no way connected to the "Palestinians" today in Gaza. Because that's the link where they are laying claim to the land. The biblical Philistines, like the biblical Hittites, do not exist anymore as a people group. They may have intermingled with other peoples, but have not maintained their own distinct culture and nation to this time.

@eschatologyguy OK, well, you were bringing up something that had nothing to do with the article. In the process, you made it sound as though you actually question whether the Philistines really did once occupy the coastal land on the eastern Mediterranean and whether there were actual artifacts and graves from these people that have been discovered. That is what took me by surprise, because it is demonstrably false.

However, I agree that the ancient Philistines were absorbed into the surrounding peoples long ago, which is something that the article also indicated. In fact, based on the study of the ancient DNA referenced in the article, the conclusion was that the Philistines were already being genetically diluted by the 10th century B.C.

Frankly, it appears to me that it would be almost impossible for anyone in recent centuries to prove any connection with the ancient Philistines at all. We also know that their cities were destroyed in successive conquests and that, later, cities were built over them by people who moved in. Thus, I agree that it would probably be impossible for any group today to make any valid scientific or historical claim to have descended from the Philistines. I think you are right about that. They are long gone as a distinct people group, not that they were all that distinct a people group even in ancient times. As the article notes:

Master concludes that the new DNA evidence, coupled with the biblical and archaeological testimonies, suggests that the Philistines originated in Crete. That is not to say that the Philistines were a homogenous group, all coming from the Aegean world, but it seems that many Philistines did indeed migrate from there, bringing with them vestiges of Minoan culture.

@KeithThroop My bad for not clarifying. Posts and exchanges like this have other readers. Most people conflate "Philistine" with "Palestine" and "Palestinian," and think of Gaza as "occupied land." I had to put that in for their benefit. This area was part of the land promised by God to the Seed of Abraham (Gen 15:18-21), and I think we both know that He does not take back His word.

@eschatologyguy

Posts and exchanges like this have other readers. Most people conflate "Philistine" with "Palestine" and "Palestinian," and think of Gaza as "occupied land." I had to put that in for their benefit.

Ah... Now that makes sense.