Two years ago, I wrote on here asking for support as I traveled to Lebanon...an experience that opened my eyes and my heart to the realities of the Palestinian people. Two years later, I'm asking for support again not for myself but for these beautiful people and this part of the world that has captured my heart.

The news coming out of Israel and Gaza over these past few weeks is heart-breaking and frustrating. Watching the news the other day about the UN school that was bombed, I literally had to turn off my TV because I felt so broken-hearted and helpless.  

The death toll is rising.  For the Palestinians, it is close to (and at this point, maybe even over) 800...simply horrifying.

This is a sensitive, complex, political issue and we don't always know how to respond.  It's messy and with not knowing what news source to trust, it can feel completely confusing.

However, politics aside, this is turning into a humanitarian and moral issue.  I can't tell you which side is "right" and what the solution will be.  But what I do know is that innocent people (on both sides) are dying.  People are dealing with the trauma that comes with living in a region plagued with war after war. 

The death toll is climbing and 1 out of every five deaths is a child. The Gaza Strip is under strict blockades and the violence is creating difficulties for humanitarian assistance to reach those who need help.

For me, it is so hard to sit back and just watch, I feel so helpless.  Part of me wants to jump on the next plane and go help with my own two hands.  Yet, I know that is not realistic. 

Compassion should compel us to action.  But like me, you may be asking how? 

Here are a few ways to take some kind of action.  It may not seem like much but even the small things can build up to create big things.

Donate:

Alia, who participated in the same program I did in Lebanon has started a Crowdraiser campaign in which all funds are being donated directly to UNRWA's Gaza Emergency Appeal. 

In an email I recently received from her she wrote:   

Please consider donating even just $10 to them...it could go to anything from medical supplies to helping supply the shelters.

https://www.crowdrise.com/emergencyaidforgaza/fundraiser/aliagilbert

You may also want to donate to another organization.  A few others to research would be; Red Cross/Red Crescent, World Vision (they work in Jerusalem and in Gaza), Mercy Corps and more. 

I know we all have different financial situations so if donating money is not realistic please consider one of these other ideas:

Speak up and advocate: 

-The following website provides ideas and links on how to take action (calling your local politicians, signing petitions, staying informed.)

http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/campaigns/take-action-for-gaza

Understand both sides:

The news is a hot mess.  Some publications are completely biased and it can feel overwhelming on figuring out who to listen to and read.  What I do is read information from all perspectives.  Then I can form my own understanding of what is going on.

 Peace can never be achieved if we don't at least attempt to keep an open-mind and understand what each side's perspective is. 

Al Jazeera: 
http://america.aljazeera.com/

Haaretz (Israeli news publication out of Jerusalem)
http://www.haaretz.com/

Humanize the Conflict:

Remind ourselves that people are not numbers.  I keep hearing the "number of Palestinians" who are killed.  But what are their names? What are their stories?  

http://humanizepalestine.com/page/2/


Have conversations but keep your mind and heart open: 

I think it's important to have conversations about what is going on.  Like it or not, even though it isn't our country, America is involved.  However, when conversations get heated because there is no open-minds approaching the conversation...that's when it becomes useless.  As I stated earlier, peace can never be achieved unless we attempt to understand each other.

Pray.

The most important thing we can do. Lift up a prayer for both sides, for the leaders and for the people.  All people deserve to live in peace.

Thanks for reading this lengthy post (sorry!) about a region and people so close to my heart.

My prayer and hope is that one day, this region of the world will experience a peace in which we all can live together in community, without fear, without violence and without hatred.


Keep praying!