In the midst of the horrific situation in Gaza and throughout Palestine/Israel, it is foolish to be optimistic. Even asking for the minimal requirement of a ceasefire and of free access to basic humanitarian needs such as food, water, medical supplies, and respite from the harrowing onslaught, seems to meet with resistance and a stubborn insistence on continuing the onslaught ‘til “final victory,” whatever that means, with no thought or plans to pursue a good future for either Palestinians or Israeli Jews. Powerful forces, even church leaders, seem to be reluctant to challenge the prevailing narrative or risk their relations with those in power. For many of us, it takes great effort and courage to even listen to the news and witness the ongoing horrors that appear to have no end.
Yet we at FOSNA have always maintained that there is a difference between optimism and hope. While we cannot predict any happy outcomes in the near future and are full of a lament over the suffering of Palestinians as well as the Israeli captives and of the general population of the region, we are full of hope that military power shall not have the last word, that a just God and his righteous people will in the end prevail, and that a better future of coexistence with peace, justice, and prosperity is not only possible but is the ultimate goal and inevitable outcome once we pass through this valley of death, destruction, and tears…..more