We found each other through grief, but are united by a vision for peace

We are an Israeli and a Palestinian who met only once before October 7th. We found each other through pain and loss, united by one mission: a vision for peace based on equality, dignity, justice and safety for all. Maoz lost his parents on October 7th, and Aziz lost his brother in the first Intifada. We both lost many more loved ones and have seen firsthand the devastation of a century of conflict.

Some might call us naïve, but history shows that peace is inevitable. It’s not a question of if, but when—and at what cost. The price is already unbearable, and every day peace is delayed, the burden grows heavier. After the 1973 war, a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt seemed impossible, yet five years later it was signed. In the early 90s, peace in Northern Ireland seemed far off, and few believed peace could happen—but it did, just a few years later.

We are not naive, we do hear the sounds of bombs, the anger, and the devastation in Gaza. We have friends whose relatives are in captivity. We know too many people who have lost loved ones. We too are angry. But we cannot let violence dominate the conversation. We cannot stand by as others endure the same loss and pain we’ve felt. We raise our voices because the present is a nightmare and desperately need a better future!

In the past year, we've visited over 20 countries, including many former and current conflict zones- Northern Ireland, Rwanda, South Africa, Colombia, and Vietnam among others. In each place, we saw a common theme: the immense toll of war, no matter its outcome. Victory is a notion built on corpses of many innocent people and therefore it's never achieved.

War, injustice, and genocide are often justified and widely supported at the time. People become intoxicated by nationalism, mistaking it for patriotism. Too often, majorities excuse atrocities. In some cases, peace itself is met with resistance. Those speaking for peace are labeled naive or traitors. But years later, many regret their support for conflict and war. They realize they were misled by leaders who fed them disinformation, fueling fear and hatred.

This cycle of fear and dehumanization isn’t unique to Israel and Palestine; it’s a pattern increasingly seen in countries around the world—whether the US, the UK, Brazil, or Germany. While it's easy to just place the blame on politicians, that’s an easy way out! The power to create change is in our hands. Our hope lies in our actions, not in our politicians.

In every conflict zone, there were a few dreamers who envisioned a better future! They knew that war can’t be the answer. Attacks on them didn’t deter them working tirelessly to achieve their mission- a sustainable peace.

The problem today isn’t the absence of a viable political solution—it’s that too many are profiting from our conflict. Too many countries are involved in creating a proxy conflict that we are paying for in our blood.  Our struggle isn’t just against violence—it’s against a massive disinformation machine that spreads divisiveness and fear.

We need many millions around the world to stand with us, be active in pushing for a change, amplifying our voices, and pressuring politicians to change policies. We must change the discourse. We know that there are many who support our mission, and our hope is rooted in them acting upon this support.

We believe that peace requires a serious policy change, not only in Israel and Palestine. Instead of investing billions on weapons, we must invest in peace. This isn’t a naive idea—it’s a practical policy choice. Our region has received many billions in weapons over the last century, but less than a fraction of a 1% of that has been invested in peacemaking. We can’t sow war and expect to harvest peace! Security won’t come from bombs, but from peace. It’s time for diplomacy, and for us to prioritize reconciliation, reconstruction, and peacemaking—not more arms.

We can’t deflect our responsibility by blaming politicians. Yes, They have failed us. The Israeli government, the opposition, the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, and the International community—they have all failed. They reject our vision, but offer no alternative but death, destruction, occupation, and endless violence.

Their failure shouldn’t lead us to despair, but motivate us to lead. For decades, peacemakers have been sidelined while politicians failed. Every time they fail, we pay the price with the blood of our loved ones. Enough is enough. It’s time for peacemakers to sit at the table, and to be included in future negotiations. We’ve found a way to collaborate, build, and envision a better future and we can make this a reality for our peoples.

As future leaders, we call for peace. It’s time to change course, end the bloodshed, and create a better future together.