A Hollow Joy: Reflections on Gaza’s Ceasefire
January Newsletter 2025
After 15 months of the War on Gaza, Israel and Hamas signed a three-stage ceasefire that took effect on January 19th, nearly identical to a proposal first introduced in May 2024. Rather than focusing on the political process that led to this agreement—or how the U.S. could have applied pressure to halt the devastation much earlier—I want to highlight the human impact of this moment.
It has brought smiles to my face to see the people of Gaza, who, after enduring what the International Court of Justice has described as a plausible genocide, finally have a brief relief. It has been heartwarming to see celebrations as Palestinian prisoners are reunited with their families after decades in Israeli prisons. Likewise, it has been comforting to witness Israeli hostages returning home after surviving not only the horrors of October 7th, but also relentless Israeli bombardment and captivity in deep underground tunnels. These moments feel like rays of sunshine piercing through a violent storm.
Yet, as images from northern Gaza flood social media, this sense of joy feels hollow to me. The weight of suffering is overwhelming: Over 47,000 Palestinian brothers and sisters confirmed dead—more than half women and children—100,000 wounded, and 1.9 million Gazans (90% of the population) internally displaced, struggling against widespread food shortages and famine in some areas. Entire neighborhoods have been obliterated, leaving Gaza without a single functioning school, library, or university. The infrastructure that sustained life and culture has been destroyed into piles of rubble. This process of holding both the agony of loss and the hope of change is bitter.
As these emotions and harsh realities are difficult for me, I also hear many different opinions all around me. I hear some arguing that Israel was defeated or at least failed to achieve total victory over Hamas, who has not surrendered or been disarmed. Others are arguing that Israel will continue attacking Gaza after all the hostages return. This fear comes as we have now seen gunfire shift its aim towards Jenin. Regardless, there are no universally agreed-upon measures of victory or defeat. Yet as a Christian, the measures of victory and defeat are quite different. It is seen through the symbol of the cross, an ultimate victory through complete defeat.
For myself, it is a never-ending challenge in maintaining moral clarity and navigating a team in this volatile and sinful Holy Land. I turn to the New Testament example of Jesus bringing together Simon the Zealot and Matthew the Tax Collector. These two men came from opposite ideological backgrounds. Tax collectors collaborated with the Roman Empire, profiting from occupation, while Zealots engaged in violent resistance, using tactics like assassinations and hostage-taking. Jesus’ calling of both men into his movement was radical. Matthew had to relinquish his privileged position and join the struggle for liberation and reconciliation, while Simon had to abandon violent resistance that risked dehumanizing the oppressor. This model of reconciliation holds both the thirst for justice and the embrace of peace. It reminds us that true redemption is found not in choosing between liberation or reconciliation but in holding them together.
Daniel Munayer
Executive Director
Palestinian Israeli Civil Society Leaders Update:
This month, our Civil Society Leaders Group held its second Follow-Up Meeting and explored the difficult and emotional theme of History and Narrative. We faced the pain of confronting our own stories and how they are seen by the other side while imagining what a shared narrative for a shared home could look like.
We all took a tour of the area surrounding Beit Jala. This brought the realities of the Occupation—checkpoints, restricted movement, and visible settlement growth from something we discuss in a room to now something we all witnessed and experienced together. Israelis witnessed the daily struggles of Palestinians, while Palestinians were reminded of ongoing injustices that those in the West Bank go through. Emotions ran high—fear, anger, sadness. We ended the weekend united, sharing a meal and reflecting on the resilience and hope needed to move forward together.
Daniel Munayer
Executive Director
&
Wasim Nasser
Programs Director
Palestinian Muslim Christian Women Update:
This new year brought another workshop for our Muslim-Christian women’s group. During the weekend, we continued our discussion on power imbalances across gender, political, social, and religious lines, leading to our weekend’s main topic: History and Narrative.
Participants from Muslim, Druze, and Christian backgrounds drew and shared pictures representing their location and story as their narratives. As women shared meaningful testimonies of their homes and families, there was power in the words and accounts they shared. One woman from the North shared a picture and story about her great-grandfather from Eilabun who secretly kept his old ID after soldiers made people destroy their State of Palestine IDs before 1948. She also spoke of her grandfather’s pain during the Nakba and how he felt watching the suffering he saw unfold in Gaza.
This weekend strengthened solidarity among the women and sparked discussions on uniting their communities rather than letting the occupation divide them.
Hiba Allati & Aseel Rian
Project Managers
Muslim-Christian Young Adults Update:
As we step into a new year filled with hope and fresh beginnings, we are excited to re-launch another two-year project for our Young Adult Muslim-Christian program. This next chapter brings opportunities for growth, connection, and positive impact through desert encounters, outreach projects, engaging activities, and transformative workshops.
We are especially grateful for our returning Young Adults, whose dedication and leadership continue to inspire us. Their commitment to growth and their role in welcoming new members set the tone for a vibrant and impactful journey ahead. Together, we look forward to building meaningful connections and making a difference.
Saleem Anfous
Project Manager
Please join us in praying for:
- For the ceasefire to continue, for hostages and prisoners to be reunited with their families, and Gazans to have aid, peace, and comfort as they return to their homes, most of which are no longer there.
- Our Civil Societies Leaders, that we would be encouraged and have hope that we can be a positive change.
- Our Muslim, Christian, and Druze women as they continue to grow closer together and wrestle with “the other’s” history and narratives.
- All of us here in the Holy Land would develop empathy for the other’s pain, and the ability to be critical of our own narratives.
- Our young adults, that our group will be a place where people feel safe and encouraged to build meaningful relationships and learn about “the other”.