How much is enough?

Yes, we suffered a terrible blow,

but Palestinians are people, too,

though all I hear are those of us

who keep saying no,

they’re our enemies,

look at what they did to us.

And, yes, that’s right,

I understand,

look at October 7th.

But it’s wrong, too,

because it wasn’t all of

the Palestinians, was it?

(Although many of us insist

all were responsible.)

But, okay, even if it’s true,

and all Palestinians were responsible

for that terrible day, and even if

we had more than enough of a reason

to counter-attack, not just for revenge

but in the hope of freeing the hostages,

there’s still the question of

how much is enough?

That’s my question after more

than a year (for both sides).

How much death and destruction

(on both sides) must we endure,

how many lives lost and ruined

(on both sides), how many children

dead or without families (on both sides),

how many arms lost or legs blown off

(on both sides)?

How much is enough? And when

will the killing stop? And how

could both sides do this to people

who, on both sides, want a land

to live in, and who will need to look

in the eyes of each other one day

and extend a hand in peace?

And here’s what makes it ten, a hundred,

no, a thousand times worse: how could we (on

both sides) do all of this damage and destruction

and not do everything possible to bring home

(or release) the hostages? When will

we bring them home? When will the other

side release them? Can anyone tell me?

And how many more of us (on both sides)

must die before then?