From Gaza, where war has reshaped every aspect of daily life, I ask a question that belongs not only to Israelis, Palestinians, or Lebanese, but to all humanity: Where is the voice of wisdom?
For too long, this region has measured time by wars instead of peace, by funerals instead of new beginnings. Every new round of violence deepens fear, hardens mistrust, and leaves another generation convinced that conflict is inevitable.
Yet history teaches us something different. Military victories may change realities on the ground, but they rarely resolve the deeper wounds that fuel conflict. Lasting security cannot be built on force alone. It also requires political courage, mutual recognition of human dignity, and a willingness to imagine a different future.
This is a moment that demands leadership of the highest order from Israeli, Palestinian, and Lebanese leaders. True leadership is not demonstrated only in times of war. It is demonstrated by the courage to end wars, protect innocent lives, and create the conditions for a just and lasting peace.
The people of this region deserve more than survival. Israeli families deserve to live without fear of rockets and violence. Palestinian families deserve to live with dignity, hope, and opportunity. Lebanese families deserve a future free from recurring cycles of destruction. These aspirations are not contradictory – they are interconnected.
I write these words not as a politician, but as someone who has witnessed the human cost of conflict firsthand. My appeal is simple: let wisdom speak louder than anger, let dialogue replace endless confrontation, and let the next generation inherit bridges instead of battlefields.
The Middle East has produced enough tragedies. It is time to produce a different legacy – one defined by courage, reconciliation, and peace.
The question remains: Where is the voice of wisdom?
Perhaps the answer begins when leaders choose to listen – not only to their allies and advisers, but also to the millions of ordinary people who simply want this war to end.
The writer has worked for 44 years at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), where he has held several leadership positions, including head of the education program, head of the central area in the Gaza Strip, and adviser to the director of UNRWA operations on community affairs.