As we bid farewell to 2024 and prepare to welcome 2025, I reflect on a moment from my youth in Nablus—a dinner shattered by the sounds of gunfire and fear brought by the Israeli army. That evening, Rafi, our Israeli guest, witnessed the daily realities of life under occupation: systematic humiliation, displacement, and the ever-present shadow of violence. His shock was a stark reminder that even in the depths of division, human connection has the power to bridge understanding.
This year, Gaza has become a devastating symbol of decades of suffering. Tens of thousands have died, 85% of the population is displaced, and its infrastructure lies in ruins. While global attention remains fixed on the humanitarian catastrophe, the larger question looms: What happens next?
The war has exposed and exacerbated deep divides over Gaza’s future governance. The UAE and Egypt advocate for a unified Palestinian government under the PLO, while skepticism surrounds the roles of both Hamas and the struggling Palestinian Authority (PA). Meanwhile, Israel’s increasingly right-wing government shows little interest in compromise, particularly in light of changing U.S. dynamics with the upcoming Trump presidency. Rhetoric about transferring Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt or from the West Bank to Jordan underscores the harsh realities Palestinians face. A visit to Hebron or Nablus reveals settler outposts strategically expanding, isolating Palestinian communities and severing connections. In this environment, one wonders: What future can Palestinian youth envision? What kind of neighbor does Israel aspire to be with such policies?
The absence of a political horizon is stark. Alienation and despair among Palestinians fuel militancy and extremism, leaving many feeling violence is the only remaining option. Regional efforts by Egypt, Jordan, and others to revive the two-state solution face significant obstacles. Without addressing core grievances—settlement expansion, displacement, and daily humiliation—such efforts risk failure.
The Abraham Accords, once a promising step toward regional cooperation, now hang by a thread. Saudi Arabia recently emphasized that normalization with Israel must include tangible progress toward Palestinian statehood. Without this, regional stability and collaboration remain fragile.
From my decades of work with Middle Eastern youth, I have seen how alienation breeds anger and violence. Addressing this requires more than humanitarian aid—it demands justice, equality, and political solutions that restore dignity to Palestinians and security to Israelis.
As Gaza’s devastation continues, it also presents an opportunity for transformation when war ends. Collaborative efforts to rebuild, establish inclusive governance under a reformed PA, and develop a sustainable framework for peace could make this crisis a turning point. But this will require bold leadership, regional unity, and unwavering international commitment. Just as Rafi’s visit to Nablus allowed him to witness the humanity of those he once knew only through the cockpit of an F-16, the region must embrace a broader vision of coexistence and shared humanity.
2025 must be the year we do more than reflect on the pain of the past. It must be the year we take bold, decisive steps toward a just and lasting peace, giving every child—Palestinian and Israeli—the hope and future they deserve.
