Saturday’s Hamas invasion of Israel was devastating. For a number of years, I’ve been doing advocacy on behalf of Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank.

I’ve heard the stories of oppression, learned the trauma of children accused of throwing rocks at soldiers,  pulled from the homes at night and jailed  by the Israeli military. I’ve witnessed the laments of those whose land is being stolen by settlements in the West Bank.

I understood Gaza to be an open air prison, with few resources and its people impoverished. I knew there to be a sense of helplessness, and despair, especially among the young. I’ve used my voice and writing in protest against intolerable conditions.

Still, with that background, the ruthlessness of Hamas’ attacks on the civilian population in Israel has left me in grief.   Grief  for the people killed and wounded in Israel. Grief,  knowing Israel’s response will rain down  multiple times, the devastation it experienced, on Gaza.  Thousands will die, and when the dust settles, the trauma in Gaza will be even worse than before the attacks.

No hearts or minds were won over to the Palestinian cause with their deadly attack. The work of advocacy was greatly hindered. Wounds of war do not heal quickly. Sympathy does not go to the one who creates the most pain.

May the day come soon, when Isaiah’s vision of hope becomes a reality:

“They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
neither shall they learn war any more.” Isaiah 2:4