By Kerul Dyer 

Pouring through the constant, 24 hour news cycle reporting from the Israel Hamas war is at once heart-wrenching and overwhelming, to say the least. One well-reported number includes the more than 40,000 deaths of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Thousands of these people have nothing to do with Hamas, including the more than 18,000 children who have been exposed to Israeli bombardment through constant displacement after the destruction of homes and critical infrastructure. The target bombing of schools, hospitals, and places of worship by Israel in the name of destroying Hamas continues daily, and the numbers of maimed and killed civilians continues to rise.

As many readers know, the war in Gaza has now expanded to many locations in the occupied West Bank. Now even more civilians are being killed by American-supplied, Israeli fired, weapons. This week, a Turkish American humanitarian activist named Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was shot and killed by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) after a protest in the West Bank. The killing of the American citizen has made headlines in the US – including President Biden’s public statement yesterday when he re-asserted Israel’s claim that her death was “an accident.” A Washington Post investigation has since gathered evidence that debunks Israel’s ‘accidental death’ claim.

The parents of another peace activist killed by Israel, Rachel Corrie, have come forward and called for the US to do an independent investigation into the death of the young activist, a recent graduate of the University of Washington. In several interviews, Rachel’s parents have asserted a solemn similarity: Israel does not investigate such incidents but rather works around the clock to “cover them up.”

Meanwhile, courageous people continue to work toward peace in the war torn, occupied state of Israel, including Yonatan Ziegen. Yonaton is an Israeli citizen whose mother, Vivian Silver, was killed by Hamas in the October 7 attack. He has vowed to continue his mother’s work toward peace and was recently featured in an interview hosted by the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR).

At Peace House, we strive to support visionary and nonviolent solutions to international conflict, including reductions in the production and financing of US-supplied weapons of war. We recognize the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire agreement in Gaza, as well as a fair, two-state solution between Palestine and Israel.