Pat Gaffney gave this talk at Alternative Remembrance Gathering yesterday in Tavistock Square, central London. Organised by the Peace Pledge Union, the otherspeakers were Richare Kuper, Jews for Justice for Palestinians and Isabel Kelly, representing the Parents Circle – Families Forum. Around 150 people of all ages and backgrounds attended.

Since the Hamas attack of October 7, it seems like streamed events examining the situation in Israel/Palestine have multiplied exponentially. The conversation has shifted, and Jewish friends and colleagues who previously thought the issue was tangential at best, are now starting to connect the dots in a way they never expected.

Sharone Lifschitz joins Christiane to mark one month since the Hamas atrocities and calls on her government to put the fate of hostages first. Robi Damelin and Bassam Aramin discuss their work together.

Christiane Amanpour speaks to Israeli peace activist Robi Damelin and spokesperson for The Parents Circle Families Forum Bassam Aramin, both of whom are bereaved parents, about working together amidst the sorrow.

The 2023 Pax Christi International Peace Award went to The Parents Circle – Families Forum (Pcff), the Israeli-Palestinian organization that includes more than 700 families who have lost a close family member due to the ongoing conflict.

The extreme violence against civilians in Israel and Gaza has shaken the world. The horrific murder and kidnapping of Israeli civilians by Hamas, and the indiscriminate bombings of Gaza by Israel, which have killed more than 8,000 Palestinians and destroyed basic infrastructure, demand a new politics of peace and justice in the region.

My columns from Israel and the West Bank over the past few weeks have been depressing, reflecting my fear that we’re on a bloody, downward spiral that will make everything worse. So let me share what I saw as an ember of hope. I didn’t expect to find such a thing. On this trip I … Continue reading Meet the Champions of Nuance and Empathy We Need | The New York Times

For the past few weeks, I have been thinking about Rami Elhanan and Bassam Aramin. Rami is an Israeli graphic designer turned peace activist, Bassam Aramin an ex-political prisoner and academic turned peace activist.

More than 35 Jewish and Arab organisations on Monday issued a call for reaching a ceasefire, releasing the kidnapped hostages and promoting a political agreement that will guarantee safety, justice and freedom for the people in Gaza amid the raging Israel-Hamas war.

An open letter signed by the groups also called on Israel to curb the rampant settler violence in the West Bank and stop the persecution of Palestinian citizens of Israel and of those who express solidarity with the residents of Gaza and oppose the war