From a social media post:

“Hamas and the Israeli forces have sowed the seeds of another century of hatred and conflict…”

Not sowed the seeds. It is already a well-established and ancient forest of hatred and conflict. It has been fed and watered frequently with bitterness and blood since before records began.

They like it this way. It is embedded into people’s culture and lore, into their tradition and values.

It can be changed, but not until:

• they want it to change;
• the rest of the world stops interfering to make it worse;
• the privatised arms industry is dismantled or otherwise not allowed to profit from provoking war; the women say “enough!” (which is hard when the cultures suppress women’s voices);
• they recognise that people with different value and beliefs are equal;
• they accept compromise and forgiveness over vengeance;
• they accept mistakes and harm are caused on all sides;
• they convince one another that getting along without bloodshed is what they want;
• they recognise that everybody has to live somewhere;
• they accept we are not entitled to anything when we are born other than what we are given by other people and that means someone else has to go without so we must share.
• In the above ‘they’ means ‘everyone’ and anyone who says otherwise is part of the problem and not ready for change.

It can be done, and has been done many times around the world. But this one is particularly tricky.

It is International Women’s Day today.  I wonder how many will be killed in conflict today.  Probably about 10 to 20 in Gaza, some more in Yemen, some more elsewhere.  Does anyone keep count?  Perhaps someone should.  How’s that for a global metric?