The article started talking about how feminists of both Palestine and Israel came together. The reason why they called for this meeting was a call for peace. They first meet at the wall of the west bank and West Jerusalem. Their protest took them to the Dead Sea. This protest involved diplomats and public figures. They read a mother’s call and demanded that this conflict end in a nonviolent solution. A jointly written declaration stated, “We, Palestinian and Israeli mothers, are determined to stop the vicious cycle of bloodshed and to change the reality of the difficult conflict between both nations for the benefit of our children.” This was to show that the people who may be the most affected by this conflict are the children. The innocent ones don’t even know what is happening with this conflict. All they know is that their friends and family are dying.
The article then talks about how Israel is infantilizing the women of their country. Even though they pride themselves on being very high in gender equality. One way they do this is by requiring every adult Israeli to be in the army. Unless the person is an Arabic woman or an Orthodox Jew. The article states that this view is insulting since women from both sides are the most vocal when it comes to peace talks. The author says that feminists must speak out against war. Hannah Safran stated, “How can you ask for freedom for yourself if you don’t ask it for other people?”
The author then shifts to talk about how women are disproportionately attacked in this conflict. About how Israeli policies make life more complicated for Palestinians in general and how the Palestinian policies disproportionally affect women in the region. The article also shows how violence is gender, and it negatively affects women. These women started focusing on the liberation of Palestine and a nonviolent solution to this conflict.
The report then talks about the outside feminists who are helping with this conflict. Looking at the past feminists and how their work will help today’s feminists regarding this conflict. Then, they go into detail about how Israel treated Gaza before the bombing. It ends on a positive note about how feminists can lead the charge into having Israel and Palestine come to a non-conflict agreement.
It’s Feminist to Demand a Ceasefire in Israel–Palestine