Since October 2023, Gazans have faced an ongoing genocide by Israel. More than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed over the past 2 years. Most homes, hospitals, and schools have been destroyed, making it almost impossible for people to meet their basic needs. A situation worsened by Israel’s continued blockades of food and aid – and with famine now declared in Gaza.
Despite a formal ceasefire agreement, Israel has continued near daily attacks on Gaza. Attacks are also increasing in the West Bank, with Israeli authorities intensifying their forced displacement of Palestinians to accommodate Israeli settlements – all of which are illegal under international law.
Across Palestine, local peacebuilders are already working to support traumatised families, protect children, and rebuild trust. Donate today to support our partner in Palestine and communities struggling for peace across the Middle East − it takes less than two minutes.
Peacebuilders in Palestine are facing extraordinary challenges. Their communities are displaced, resources destroyed and hopes for justice continually undermined. Yet local organisations like our partner, Dalia Association, persist. Despite the occupation, they’re working to restore livelihoods, protect the environment, and strengthen resilience among forcibly displace Palestinians. Their work is a powerful reminder that peace must be led by those with direct, lived experience of the conflicts affecting their communities.
At Peace Direct, we take the lead from local peacebuilders in Palestine, Lebanon and the wider region who tell us it is not possible to have true local “peacebuilding” in a context of such injustice and unaccountability. Our contacts are asking how peacebuilding can operate amongst ongoing colonial occupation, or when Palestinians are continually dehumanised by Western governments and international media?
Alongside local peacebuilders, we recognise that true peace must be rooted in liberation and justice. Which is why we have been continuously disappointed by the lack of condemnation of Israel by Western governments. As a peacebuilding NGO, we continue to demand action from all governments, particularly the UK, US and EU where we are based.
While we push for government action, we’re finding hope in the hundreds of NGO campaigns, student protests, boycott movements and acts of resistance to the arms trade taking place around the world each day. Grounded in our shared human rights and desire for peace for all, these actions remind us of the power individual people and collective movements have. They are all vital forms of peacebuilding.
Across Palestine, local peacebuilders are already working to support traumatised families, protect children, and rebuild trust. Donate today to support our partner in Palestine and communities struggling for peace across the Middle East − it takes less than two minutes.
