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the human side of the conflict with the 
American public to further support 
efforts for peace.
Members pledge to uphold the 
sancticty of life, to practice nonviolence, 
refrain from “us vs. them” hate speech, 
acknowledge and understand the pain 
of the other side, listen with empathy 
even when they don’t agree, and strive 
to be a peacemaker (see the pledge at 
parentscirclefriends.org/pledge.)
Now, as the numbers of people killed 
skyrocket in both nations, the need 
for initiatives that advocate for non-
violence and offer bereavement support 
is greater than ever.
Robi Damelin, PCFF’s spokesperson 
and director of international relations, 
explains that continuing programs on 
the ground is too difficult, so most 
programming takes place via Zoom or 
webinars. Still, this allows the public, 
including Americans, to participate.
A recent webinar, for example, 
featured stories of both Israelis and 
Palestinians impacted by the conflict. 
Speaking during the program was a 
young man from Ramallah who lost 
much of his family in Gaza, as well as 
a man whose parents were burned to 
death by Hamas on Oct. 7 in the south 
of Israel.

Damelin, who lost her son, David, to 
a Palestinian sniper in 2002 while he 
was serving in the Israeli army reserves, 
says support from other bereaved 
families brought her the greatest solace.
“There is no sense in anger and 
retribution,” she explains. “It doesn’t 
help because it’s not going to bring back 
any of those people, so we have to find 
another way.”
That way, she believes, is to create a 
framework for a reconciliation process 
to become an integral part of a future 
political peace agreement between the 
two nations.
Even now, that framework has been 

tested, proving its need is critical.
A group of bereaved Israeli and 
Palestinian children who attended 
PCFF summer camp programming 
signed a charter for nonviolence and 
reconciliation at the United Nations 
office in Jerusalem on International 
Peace Day on Sept. 21, but wanted 
nothing to do with each other just a few 
weeks later when the war broke out on 
Oct. 7.
By slowly working with the children, 
those relations have started to mend 
as the kids once again are willing and 
open to meet with one another.
“We have to ask ourselves, ‘What 

Oasis of Peace is a small 
village located in central 
Israel where Israelis and 
Palestinians have lived 
side-by-side for decades.

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Givat Haviva International School brings 
together students ages 15 to 18 from 
Israeli and Palestinian communities.