Look for the Helpers: Standing for Peace and Preserving Life in Gaza
Gazans are living in dire conditions, facing food insecurity, and fearing for their lives. Here are some of the brave souls bringing relief, building peace, and centering everyone's humanity.
In our research for this post, two goals guided us. One, the heart of why Mr. Rogers advised us to “look for the helpers”: for ourselves and all of you to see not only the horrifying news, but also see the people who are showing up, on the ground, putting their care into action. Two, to amplify awareness of the people who continue to choose humanitarian work, choose peacebuilding, choose life, and refuse to dehumanize anyone.
World Central Kitchen has a simple yet deeply compassionate and courageous mission—send chefs around the world to places in crisis where meals are needed. Not tomorrow—but today. World Central Kitchen has been running food operations in Gaza since the onset of the conflict in October 2023, but recently have made international headlines because they ran out of food as of early May when Israel shut the borders into Gaza. They converted their kitchens to serve potable water, helping to keep Palestinians alive in any way possible, and had truckloads of food waiting at the border crossing in Egypt, ready to prepare 500,000 meals per day as soon as the borders opened. They are currently no longer able to run their operations due to the danger to their staff in running these kitchens. The world is watching the continued bloodshed and blockades by the Israeli Government and will continue to put the pressure on Israel so that sufficient amounts of aid return to the area immediately. We thank WCK for being first responders to save lives however they are able.
The Parents Circle is a collective of bereaved families from Israel and Palestine promoting coexistence and an end to violence on both ends of the conflict. The Parents Circle believes “there is no other path than the path of peace, mutual recognition, and a return to our shared humanity.” In a conference call from May 20th, Israeli and former hostage Liat Atzili and Palestinian Hala Al-Bukhari share their stories of loss with an American audience (via the offshoot org American Friends of the Parents Circle), each holding compassionate space for each other’s humanity and shared grief. Their commitment to putting an end to this conflict as bereaved wives and family members is a powerful cry out for humanity over revenge.
Project HOPE is a global organization supporting a team of midwives in Gaza, where thousands of pregnant women are enduring dire circumstances. These midwives deliver essential health care before, during, and after childbirth, as well as caring for newborns and children. Despite immense obstacles in the North and South regions of the Gaza Strip, they’ve reached over 13,000 women in the last five months. They manage emergency deliveries, cover night shifts, and provide postpartum care, as well as family planning and malnutrition screening. As of Project HOPE’s June 6 update on Instagram, their six health clinics are still providing critical nutritional supplements and medical care. These people are true “helpers,” showing up with fierce determination and deep care in a place of greatest need. Right now, they are in need of help as well, because of cuts to critical funding. Click here to support Project HOPE and help keep their clinics open.
Yousra Abusharekh and her family of four are currently surviving in Gaza under the harshest of conditions. Despite the horror Yousra is living through, she works as a humanitarian aid worker, distributing vegetables to children whenever they are available through the organization INARA (International Network of Aid Relief and Assistance). In May of 2023, Yousra had just received a Masters degree from Portland State University, as a Fulbright scholar, and returned to Gaza to reunite with her family, with dreams of serving her community. She is now fighting for her life, yet heroically showing up for the call of duty by distributing aid and documenting the atrocities of this war via her Instagram and as a guest speaker on various podcasts. To support Yousra and her family, you can contribute at this GoFundMe site.
Standing Together describes themselves as “The People’s Left.” They are a robust grassroots movement comprised of Arab and Jewish Israelis working in collaboration to end Occupation, endless wars, land grabs, economic inequality, and discrimination in the land of Israel/Palestine. Standing Together aims to pave the way for a more progressive political future for Israel, that provides equal rights for all people. They organize the largest demonstrations within Israel campaigning for Ceasefire and Hostage Deals. In May, Standing Together launched the ‘Humanitarian Guard,’ where activists gather at the Tarqumiyah checkpoint to guard aid trucks headed to Gaza from extremist settlers that come out to attack the trucks.
Thank you to all of the courageous aid workers, activists, midwives and helpers showing up in the midst of a hostile and dangerous environment in Gaza. The world has its eyes on the Middle East, and we see and honor you, those who stand for humanity in the face of devastation and hatred. Thank you for shining hope in the darkest of times.
Thank you for sharing about these helpers who working in the most dire conditions.