Humanity is not Neutral
April 2025 Newsletter
As violence in Gaza continues, our team continues to be asked by many about the meaning and consequences of neutrality and reconciliation—leading us to share this second installment of our ongoing conversations.
After blocking all food, water, medicine, and fuel at the beginning of March, Israel shattered the fragile ceasefire deal in Gaza on March 18th. Having allegedly violated the ceasefire over 350 times and killed 100 people, Israel then proposed a new agreement that deviated significantly from the one signed in January. When Hamas rejected it, Israeli forces resumed a surprise air assault on displaced families—most of them living in tents. That night, Netanyahu promised these strikes were “just the beginning”. In the week that followed, nearly 700 Palestinians were killed, including journalists and many children. It is also unknown how many of the 59 Israeli hostages are still alive. As the destruction of Gaza and its people resumes, attacks on refugee camps in Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarem also continue. The ceasefire in South Lebanon is barely holding, and in the last month Israel’s security cabinet approved 13 new illegal settlements in the West Bank. In these times, we continue asking: What does neutrality mean?
I, Ella, considered myself apolitical and neutral for a long time. I didn’t enlist in the military, and I convinced myself that I wasn’t involved in the oppressive system. If I didn’t participate, I wouldn’t be responsible. But the fact that I did not enlist in the military did not exempt me from participating in oppression. I was still able to enjoy my privileges as an Israeli at the expense of Palestinians. I only came to understand what neutrality really is years later, after I was hurt by it. In a personal moment of deep vulnerability and when I needed protection, those who could have acted and protected me stayed silent. That silence and disengagement didn’t feel neutral—it felt like abandonment. In a context of oppression, neutrality doesn’t place you outside of what’s happening—it helps sustain it. That’s why I believe neutrality is not passive. It’s an active choice. It’s choosing comfort and privilege over justice and truth. And in doing so, it protects and empowers the power of the oppressors.
Being able to be neutral or apolitical is a privilege many oppressed people simply don’t have. When you are the one being silenced, displaced, or targeted, neutrality isn’t an option, it’s a luxury reserved for those whose lives aren’t on the line, the privileged ones. As an Israeli, I am privileged, yet taking a public stance against the occupation and against Jewish supremacy comes at a cost. In this context, you might lose access to certain privileges. You might be treated as a traitor. But when the oppressed are being silenced, fired, expelled, and killed, I don’t feel like I have the right as a human to stay silent. Humanity is not neutral. This remains true for me in my reason for living here. One of the reasons I choose to stay here is because I have privileges that others do not, and it is my obligation to use these privileges for the sake of justice. That is the responsibility of those who can afford to speak when others cannot.
Reconciliation, on the other hand, seeks the truth and accountability behind our silence. We are called to recognize pain, injustice, oppression, imbalances and asymmetry of power, and violence, without minimizing or comparing when it becomes uncomfortable. We need to honor the connectedness of the Palestinians to their culture, language, and land, whilst we need to unshackle Judaism from Zionism. Reconciliation requires our sacrifice, our discomfort, our power, our availability to labor for human dignity and equality for all, especially for those that neutrality has left behind. We need to continue to give up these privileges in order to be the voice that the oppressed cannot be in the face of neutrality.
Ella Fidan Daniel
Project Manager
& M.A.G.
Civil Society Leaders Update:
In March and April, our Civil Society Leaders gathered for our 4th and 5th Follow-Up Meetings on Co-Advocacy. There was a lot of excitement around the weekends, the group has been yearning to take action. The combination of shared personal stories and training on effective advocacy created a sense of empowerment and optimism for everyone. Two participants shared firsthand accounts of the challenges Palestinian Muslim men and Ethiopian Jews face in Israeli society, highlighting the obstacles that minorities face in Israeli society. Jack Munayer led the main session on Co-advocacy, equipping us with tangible tools and realistic aims for our group. Together, Israelis and Palestinians began brainstorming strategies and identifying issues in which our collective identity is suitable to address.
Daniel Munayer, Executive Director
Wasim Nasser, Programs Director
Muslim Christian Young Adults Update:
Over the past month, our Young Adults group came together to celebrate Ramadan with a special Iftar meal. Breaking the fast is not just about eating—it’s about sharing and fostering connections. Since our Y.A. program is dedicated to building lasting relationships between Christian and Muslim Palestinians, hosting an Iftar was the perfect way to embody this mission.
To make the experience even more meaningful, we gathered all 30 participants for a communal meal at a restaurant in Bethlehem. Throughout the evening, we played group games, engaged in lively conversations, and shared memorable moments. Many participants expressed how much they enjoyed the experience, making it a truly special night. Amidst all the food, laughter, and conversations, we were so immersed in the moment that no one even thought to take a group picture!
Saleem Anfous, Project Manager
Muslim Christian Women Update:
This month, we gathered in Bethlehem for a weekend of meaningful conversation and reflection. In observance of Ramadan, we began our time together with an Iftar meal We shared Ramadan lanterns and explored the connections between fasting in both Ramadan and Lent. The theme of the weekend was “Freedom of Religion or Belief,” and every activity was designed to challenge stereotypes and question the stigmas we hold about one another. Our goal was to find common ground where we could all stand, regardless of our individual beliefs.
As the weekend unfolded, it became impossible to separate our discussions from the ongoing tragedy in Gaza and the situation in the West Bank. The violence, especially in light of the recent genocide in Gaza, loomed heavily over our conversations, particularly as we discussed the roles of the UN, international law, and the global community. These issues underscored the urgency of our theme, reminding us how vital it is to approach one another with understanding, compassion, and a shared commitment to justice.
Hiba Allati and Aseel Rian, Project Managers
Artistic Recommendation:
No Other Land
2025 | Documentary | 1h 35m
Directed by Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Hamdan Ballal, and Rachel Szor
No Other Land is a powerful documentary created by a Palestinian-Israeli collective that depicts the ongoing destruction and forced displacement of the Masafer Yatta region in the occupied West Bank, south of Hebron, by Israeli soldiers. The film highlights the emerging alliance between Palestinian activist Basel and Israeli journalist Yuval, as they work together to document the harrowing realities faced by the local community, and it’s a co-production between Palestine and Norway. The film won Best Documentary Feature Film at the most recent Academy Awards. Yuval is a Musalaha alumnus, and Rachel participated in our recent Civil Society Leaders Program.
Despite their courageous work, Basel and Bilal, along with the rest of the Masafer Yatta community, continue to endure attacks from settlers and the Israeli military. The threat of displacement and destruction looms over their villages. Tragically, Bilal Hamdan, one of the filmmakers, was violently attacked by settlers on Monday, March 25th, in his village of Susya, located in Masafer Yatta. The settlers attempted to suffocate him, assaulting other civilians and destroying their belongings. In a further act of brutality, the Israeli army detained Bilal while he was being transported in an ambulance, and his whereabouts were unknown until he was finally released a day later. The ongoing violence faced by Bilal, Basel, and the Masafer Yatta community underscores the urgent need for international attention and action in defense of their rights.
Prayer Requests:
Please join us in praying for:
- An end to the violence in Gaza and the West Bank.
- An added sense of justice, peace, and strength as we resist oppression with truth, compassion, and action.
- Wisdom and unity for the Civil Society Leaders as they discern how best to use their unique identity to advocate for impactful change.
- The friendships formed during our Muslim-Christian Young Adults Iftar grow into relationships of lasting peace and understanding.
- Continued openness and compassion among the Muslim-Christian Women, especially as participants challenge stereotypes and build unity.
- Protection, justice, and international support for the Masafer Yatta community amid ongoing threats.