According to the United Nations, more than 67% of the dead in Gaza are women and children, while more than 98% of Hamas and Israeli fighters are men. On average, two women have lost their lives for every hour that this war continues to linger on. This behavior of waging war to settle differences between groups with different identities or beliefs is justified by the idea that "might makes right." We believe that there is one group that needs to speak up to change this idea: women.
Remnants of this ideology are prevalent in the 21st century, where the world is awash in weapons of mass destruction. Although the Israel-Hamas war is negative, it can serve as a positive opportunity to shift to another paradigm: waging peace.
Just like the theory of quantum entanglement emphasizes—the struggle and loss faced by individuals overseas in the Middle East is mirrored in Americans. It leads to observable polarization among U.S. citizens as they pick sides and argue that one is right and the other is wrong. The effects of this division can be noted in the continued anti-Semitic and Islamophobic behavior and sentiment expressed by some people in society.
Whether it be the right to work, women's suffrage or bodily autonomy, women have played the role of change-makers through advocacy for generations. We believe that women, who have united and fought for change throughout history, have the power to make an impact in the struggle for peace. We, female students of Jewish and Muslim backgrounds, do not approve of the continuation of the war and seek to bring awareness to its devastating toll.
The U.N.Security Council recognized that women/girls are impacted differently from men/boys during conflicts involving arms and weapons of mass destruction. This led to the creation of a resolution regarding Women's Peace and Security (WPS) in October 2000. SCR 1325 stated that due to the effects they face, women should be involved in various peace processes ranging from conflict prevention to peacebuilding. Though this resolution was written in regard to women in the U.N. being protected against discrimination in decision-making, it relates to everyday women who seek to find a role in the endorsement for peace, showcasing the idea that women should have increased roles in advocacy.
We have sought out peacemakers and come across organizations of Jewish and Muslim women who have teamed up to broker peace due to their shared sentiment and frustration caused by the division this war and their differences have created in society.
Women Wage Peace is a movement "which is acting to prevent the next war and to promote a non-violent, respectful, and mutually accepted solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the active participation of women through all stages of negotiations."
Salaam Shalom joins Muslim and Jewish women to show the rest of the world how differences don't need to lead to violence. Their work is not limited to hosting events such as panel discussions on the topic of peace and understanding, holding functions related to holidays and traditions practiced by both Muslim and Jewish women in the institution, as well as holding book events showcasing literature that seeks to unite, such as “We Refuse to be Enemies: How Muslims and Jews Can Make Peace, One Friendship at a Time,” by Sabeeha Rehman and Walter Ruby.
The Jerusalem Center for Women empowers Palestinian women in East Jerusalem and beyond through education, advocacy and community engagement. The organization strives to provide a platform for its members to voice their concerns regarding their rights and peace in sight of the conflict.
The initiatives led by these women bring about substantial changes in their local communities. However, eradicating the black-and-white mentality surrounding the Israel-Hamas war altogether, requires a joint, international effort.
We believe that the change in the attitude regarding the relations between Muslims and Jews can start at the school level with young women who are capable of pioneering change across the world coming together and reversing the common assumption that Muslims and Jews are mutually exclusive. Wishing to be part of the solution for a new world, we actively voice our desire for accord in our communities.
Several of us female students have taken initiative through various means. We have voiced concerns to local politicians and officials, created informative posters and spread them around our community, organized, and participated in local protests expressing concerns about the value of innocent lives. All in addition to joining the Muslim and Jewish Student Association at our high school because one of the best ways to create feelings of empathy and sympathy allowing for peace is to talk about how we are all connected rather than solely talk about what makes us all different.
We encourage women who are currently inactive in the cause to find organizations they can support, and to team up with each other in addition to students across religious affiliations finding ways to hold center with a humanitarian point of view when the rest of the world is on fire with radicalization and political dissent.
Achieving peace is possible when empathy, cooperation and equality are emphasized rather than the use of force and division. The Israel-Hamas war demands transformation in the ways of peace-building. By acknowledging and implementing the crucial role of women in bringing about change, we can turn the hopes of living in a unified world into our living-breathing reality.
Tiffany Brekher is a Brooklyn resident and a rising senior at Staten Island Technical High School. Danielle Brekher is a Brooklyn resident and a rising junior at Staten Island Technical High School. Zainab Hashmi is a Staten Island resident and a rising senior at Staten Island Technical High School.
