Hope Amidst Conflict: Families Working Towards Peace in Gaza
The ongoing conflict and violence in the Gaza strip has left the world feeling hopeless. With over 11,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis losing their lives, both sides have resorted to bloodcurdling calls for violence, while world leaders have shown shocking apathy in bringing an end to the conflict.
Amidst this despair, there are voices advocating for peace on both sides. One such organization is the Parents Circle-Families Forum (PCFF), which has a remarkable story of origin and purpose. In 1994, Yitzhak Frankenthal, the father of a 19-year-old Israeli soldier killed by Hamas, joined forces with other grieving families to establish PCFF in 1995.
Roni Hirshenzon, who tragically lost two sons – one to a suicide bombing attack in 1995 and another who took his own life – was among the first to join Frankenthal. By 1998, the Israeli members of PCFF had made contact with Palestinian families who had also suffered loss. Following a temporary suspension of activities during the fighting in 2000, PCFF expanded its membership to include families from Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
Since then, PCFF has grown to include over 600 families, and their primary focus has been on facilitating dialogue encounters. These encounters provide audiences with the opportunity to listen to the personal stories of both Palestinians and Israelis who aim to promote reconciliation and peace.
Members of the PCFF have endured unimaginable grief, yet they have chosen the path of peace instead of seeking revenge. Layla Alsheikh, a Palestinian member of PCFF, joined the organization in 2016 after losing her six-month-old son in 2002. She has since participated in various media dialogues alongside Israeli families who have also suffered losses in the long-standing conflict.
During an event in April 2023, Alsheikh spoke to an audience of American Jews alongside an Israeli mother who had also lost her son. Alsheikh expressed her amazement upon hearing the personal stories of the Israelis, realizing that they too experienced pain and loss. She emphasized that regardless of their differences and circumstances, pain and loss are universal, transcending religious and cultural boundaries.
Similar stories of loss and reconciliation can be found throughout the region, such as the experience of Bassim Aramin, a Palestinian man who lost his daughter in 2007 due to the actions of an Israeli soldier.
Robi Damelin, an Israeli mother who lost her son when he was killed by a sniper at a checkpoint, is another member of PCFF. She shared in a blog post on PCFF’s website that her son David was actually reluctant to serve in occupied territories. However, he felt compelled to go, not wanting to let his fellow soldiers down, and tragically lost his life as a result.
All these individuals, who have endured immense personal loss, are part of PCFF. Their vision for lasting peace in the region is rooted in reconciliation between the two groups. While politicians and governments on both sides choose hatred and demonization, PCFF’s campaigns and projects seek to humanize each side to the other, fostering understanding and empathy.
However, in a recent development, the Israeli education ministry banned PCFF from conducting activities in schools, citing a new rule issued by Israel’s right-wing government that prohibits the disparagement of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) in educational settings.
Despite this setback, PCFF members continue to hold community dialogues and spread their message of peace through media appearances. As the world observes the harrowing events unfolding in Gaza, one can only hope that their message will be heard and embraced.
In conclusion, amid the conflict in Gaza, the Parents Circle-Families Forum (PCFF) stands as a beacon of hope. Comprised of families who have experienced devastating loss on both sides of the conflict, PCFF advocates for peace through dialogue and understanding. While governments and politicians perpetuate hatred, PCFF’s work humanizes each side to the other, emphasizing the shared pain and desire for reconciliation. Despite facing challenges, PCFF’s message of peace continues to be shared, offering hope amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
