It is a tense time for us all here in Israel and Palestine and it feels like we are trapped in an endless loop of extremist rhetoric and death in Gaza. As the number of killed continues to rise in the besieged enclave, we are doing all we can to call for a ceasefire and for those in power to acknowledge that there is no military solution to be found here - only a political solution can create the peace we so desperately crave.

The International Court of Justice in the Hague has ordered that Israel must take all actions to prevent genocidal acts from occurring, and to adopt all possible measures to prevent intentional harm to civilians as outlined in Article 2 of the 1948 Genocide Convention. They also declared that punitive action must be taken against those inciting genocide.

So, where does this leave us? What should we do when we have 12 Israeli parliament members and 15 coalition lawmakers pledging to rebuild settlements inside Gaza and calling for the mass displacement and expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza? When little Israeli children are encouraged to risk their lives by running into Gaza under a fence to plant an Israeli flag? Both of these events happened just this week, and the longer Israeli soldiers are in Gaza, and the longer Israeli hostages are held by Hamas, the more the hope fades.

We know that extremism should play no part in the day after the war. Not in any form, or under any ideology, beliefs or ideals aimed at the total and complete destruction or elimination of another. We must find strong leaders that can look ahead and re-shape the Israeli mindset and re-model a just and equitable Palestinian future. This is why we are on the streets staging peaceful but powerful protests, and encouraging everyone to play their part in ending the war.

Right now, our movement is focusing on the young people that can be that change. Through our educational programming in both Palestine and Israel, we are creating future leaders that understand the others grief, that recognizes the others rights, and that fundamentally opposes violence in the pursuit of peace. With 27,000 people killed in Gaza, many women and children, it is hard for even the most committed to feel optimistic or hopeful. But the day after the war will eventually come, and it is down to people like us to call out incitement to genocide, to remain on the side of humanity, and to invest in the young people that can become the change we so badly need.

Join us for our next International webinar on February 1st at 9pm Jerusalem time to hear from Palestinians and Israelis on joint resistance and moving beyond dreams, and into action. We look forward to seeing you there.