Dear friends, partners and supporters,

Two years have passed since the tragic events of October 7, 2023; a day that shattered lives, deepened divides, and marked the beginning of one of the most horrific chapters in the history of this land. Since then, we have witnessed relentless violence, immeasurable loss, and the complete failure of political leadership on both sides. The war on Gaza has not only destroyed thousands of lives but has also shaken the very foundations of our shared humanity.

We are writing to you today, two years later, not only to mourn and reflect, but to reaffirm our vision for a different future.

From the earliest moments of the war, when both communities were overwhelmed by grief, fear, and anger, Combatants for Peace stood firmly in our truth: that there is no military solution to this conflict. That violence only breeds more violence. That collective punishment is not a policy, but a crime. And above all, that There is Another Way. 

We said it then, and we say it now: Every life is sacred. We honour the humanity of every life in this land, and we believe our safety and liberation are interconnected. 

As Palestinians and Israelis who have taken part in the cycle of violence and who have chosen another way, we have not looked away. We have stood in solidarity — with the people of Gaza who are suffering unimaginable violence, the mass killing of innocent civilians, the loss of their homes, their futures and their most basic human rights. We raise the voices of everyone enduring the devastating impacts of this war - Israelis who lost loved ones in the brutal attacks at the Nova festival and in the South; with Palestinians in the West Bank who are being forcibly removed from their villages and terrorized by escalating military and settler violence; with the families of hostages, anxiously waiting for news of whether their loved ones are still alive or will ever return; with Israelis taking to the streets to protest the war, determined to make their voices heard; and with Palestinian citizens of Israel, who are being silenced and persecuted simply for expressing sympathy with the suffering in Gaza. 

We believe in holding the pain of every human being who is facing the consequences of the violence of this war. 

In the face of unbearable loss and widespread silence, we raised our voices. We brought together bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost loved ones to mourn together at our Joint Memorial Ceremony. And at our Joint Nakba Remembrance Ceremony, we stood together in recognition of the deep historical wounds that continue to shape our present. We challenged the narratives that dehumanize the other. Our Freedom Schools have continued to educate the next generation of activists.

We have marched in the streets of Tel Aviv and in Beit Jala in the West Bank, protesting the war and calling for its end, demanding the release of the hostages and of Palestinian prisoners. Our activists have persisted, despite the challenges and movement restrictions, to come together and insist that there is another way. 

Through social media, international media, and countless vigils and protests, we have called out the war in Gaza for what it is: a genocide unfolding in real time, and it must be stopped. 

Now, we watch as delegations hold talks negotiating Trump’s peace plan and a potential deal aimed at ending the war. But these plans, like those before them, cannot succeed without centring justice, equality, and dignity for all. We know that any genuine resolution must be rooted in mutual recognition, accountability, and a commitment to end the occupation.