“For already 50 years, October 7th brings me back to the bloody war in which I lost both of my brothers. While I was filled with sadness and soul searching for their absence in my life, and on the steep price of all wars, and while I was wondering whether this year I did enough to prevent further wars… I fell asleep for a short and excited night, with hope to wake up to a year filled with life, action, joy, and a longing that will never end. 

But on the morning of October 7th I woke up to a new tragedy. The last 50 years were swallowed up, and my soul returned to the despair and pain that have been accompanying me since the age of 16 until today. 

There is no hope in wars, there is no real justice or victory. There is only never ending pain that we learn to live with. We learn as women, because in my family there are only women left to learn. We are three generations of only women, and each of us has worked and continues to work towards peace. 

I promote reconciliation in partnership with my friends and Palestinian friends, and in that way give a meaning of hope to the deaths of my brothers. And my heart breaks that now for a fourth generation  a woman in my family, who grew up in the shadow of bereavement, loses her friends and loved ones in war. I didn’t do enough – we weren’t able to prevent this one. 

We – Israelis and Palestinians, men and women – who know the price of wars – must succeed in stopping the spilling of blood.”

– Anat, bereaved Israeli sister