Over the last several years Palestinians felt abandoned and ignored by Arabs, Americans, and Europeans. The people in Gaza and the West Bank seemed to have become almost invisible to everyone except themselves and the Israelis with whom they engaged in a low-intensity, but deadly conflict.
The attacks on October 7th and the continuing brutal Israeli response changed that, perhaps forever. Now it’s hard to imagine ever returning to the status quo ante as unpleasant and unstable as that was. But all wars end, and this one will as well. The people who survive, especially the almost 50% of Gazans under the age of 18, will surely be marked for life.
So what?
That’s a harsh question, and it demands honest answers. Could the tragedy of war somehow lead to better lives and even a sovereign state for millions of Palestinians? Are Palestinians condemned to remain stuck in whatever circle of Dante’s hell they now inhabit? Or might they give up and leave, even if the rest of the world doesn’t seem to want them?
Our guest on New Thinking for a New World brings the sort of experience and insight that can at least give us a window into possibilities. Francesca Borri is an Italian journalist and war reporter who has lived in the West Bank since 2007. Her work and integrity are respected by Arabs as well as Israelis. Proof point: she was the first Western journalist to interview Yahya Sinwar in 2018 and that interview led to direct negotiations between Hamas and Israel.
Can you imagine a positive ending to the tragedy in Gaza? Please tell us what you think in the comment section below.
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ABOUT OUR GUEST
Francesca Borri was born in Italy in 1980. She holds a Master’s in International Relations, a Master’s in Human Rights, and a Bachelor’s in Philosophy of Law. After a first experience in the Balkans, she worked in the Middle East as a human rights officer. She turned to journalism in February 2012 to cover the war in Syria as captured in her book Syrian Dust. She is also the author of books on Kosovo (2008), Israel and Palestine (2010), and Aleppo (2014). In 2017, she was shortlisted for the European Press Prize for her reporting from the Maldives, the non-Arab country with the highest per capita number of foreign fighters. Destination Paradise, the book based on that reportage, was published in 2018. She now writes for La Repubblica, Italy’s leading newspaper. Her next book, Jenin Qassam, will be out in December.
The current tragedy unfolding in Gaza reveals just how deeply the absence of love affects us all. I truly believe that, despite years of abandonment, the Palestinian people—and especially the younger generations—hold an immense potential for transformation and healing. The key lies in restoring love and empathy at the heart of all interactions.
Imagine a future where individuals on all sides of the conflict consciously choose love over hatred and see each other beyond the pain, as humans with shared dreams of peace and dignity. A shift in consciousness could make this possible; after all, the vibrational awakening happening worldwide reminds us that humanity’s greatest power is compassion.
The tragedy could indeed lead to a reawakening, where mutual respect and unity bring about a sovereign and peaceful future for Palestinians.
We must focus not only on stopping the violence but also on nurturing the resilience and aspirations of the young people in Gaza and the West Bank. Love, after all, transcends boundaries, and I believe that an end to this tragedy must begin with a collective commitment to fostering that love, even in the midst of conflict.”