Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib
This Mother's Day weekend, I can't stop thinking of all the Palestinian mothers in Gaza who have lost so much and paid the ultimate price as a result of the horrendous war that has claimed tens of thousands of innocent lives, including women who were trying desperately to protect their children and families. I'm thinking of my mother, Seham, who lost most of her immediate and extended family in a single Israeli airstrike back on December 14, 2023. This photo was of my first time seeing my mother in years, and since the tragedy that had befallen our family. I'm grateful that she's now in a safe place outside of Gaza, and feel heartbroken that most mothers in the Strip lack that safety and continue to suffer. And yes, I'm also thinking of Israeli mothers who lost friends and family on October 7, and those who still have loved ones in captivity in Gaza. Regardless of divisions and politics, Palestinian and Israeli mothers both experience bereavement and pain when losing children, their homes, their families, or separation from loved ones. They are united by a desire to create a peaceful and prosperous environment for their immediate and extended communities. Indeed, the future of peace between Palestinians and Israelis may be partially driven by the actions of mothers on both sides who reject the old paradigms of the conflict and seek radical pragmatism as a new path forward. Motherhood is a universal privilege and blessing that entails the ultimate acts of love, compassion, sacrifice, and perseverance. Mothers deserve appreciation and respect year-round, not just during a commercial holiday.
