Will Work from Gaza

The last thing Israelis need is a lecture from a goyim in America. But as calls to level Gaza grow louder, my friend Khalil—a Palestinian man in Gaza—reminds me how easily we forget that even one innocent soul is enough to challenge the cruelty of collective punishment.

In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham pleads with G-d to spare the city if even a small number of righteous people can be found. He negotiates persistently from fifty down to ten, and each time, G-d agrees that the presence of even one innocent person warrants mercy. If only US special envoy Steve Witkoff’s diplomatic efforts were as clear and persistent. My heart aches for the hostages languishing as a direct consequence of his incompetence.

But to assume an entire population is guilty erases the humanity of people like Khalil—who, despite the violence around him, dares to dream of a future without Hamas, without terror, without endless war.

You can argue about how misguided I am in the comments. In the mean time, the crossings are still closed. The war is back on. And my friend is still trapped in Gaza. 

I’m sharing this exchange, with his permission, because I can express myself without fear of persecution. My friend, on the other hand, is still not free from the threat of Hamas. He is very concerned when I tell him about what I write and share publicly, and insists his real name not be mentioned.

To be clear, I’m not sharing this for pity or even to elicit your compassion. I know that trust is broken and tensions are high. All I ask is that you acknowledge his humanity.

Despite being worlds apart, he and I agree on almost everything philosophically and politically. When I asked his thoughts on this image, he shared in a word: “Peace.”

I obtained this postcard from Jerusalem Open House in January 2024. If anyone knows who the artist is, I would love to credit them, as there’s no mention of them on the card itself.

The first time we disagreed, was about the use of the word ‘genocide.’ Debating a person experiencing such hardship, on the words they use to describe their own suffering may seem pedantic, but I went there—brave or foolish, you decide.

  July 1, 2024 

Jennifer: I know calling it genocide is very popular even though I don’t agree. I have a lot of respect for words and specifically the words I choose.

Khalil: But what is really happening here is genocide. Is what I am saying wrong?
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K: Killing civilians, children, the elderly, women, population displacement, what happens to me, innocent people and children.

K: Peace, where is peace, where is humanity, where is mercy

K: I am a young man in my early years thinking about suicide, why is this nonsense?

J: War is not the same as genocide but it is terrible.

K: Jennifer, it is a war, but by the Holocaust I do not mean what happened to Hitler, I mean it is an expression of what is happening to us.

K: What happened on October 7, Black Saturday, was a Holocaust for the Jews for one day, and after that, the Holocaust for the Palestinians began.

J: The difference is that Jews were killed just because they’re Jewish.

K: Also, a Palestinian is killed just because he is a Palestinian

J: It seems that way and I know that happens but that’s not the intention. The intention is to move civilians from the fighting. That’s not what they do in a Holocaust. In a Holocaust they round people up and work them to death in camps. Kill them in gas chambers as part of a system. There’s a big difference.

K: Okay

J: They don’t round you up and shoot you one by one into a ditch

K: That is, if its name is Holocaust, Nakba, Massacre, Famine, Humiliation, Insult, War, Destruction, then let this curse end and we live in peace.

J: They try not to harm civilians. But how do you have civilians holding hostages and not expect them to get harmed when they don’t let them go home to their families?

K: Let me clear something up

J: Ok

K: What army in the world? Suppose, for example, the American army. Who belongs to it? The American citizens. So suppose, for example, that your son belongs to the American army and you do not, and a war occurred between America and China (for example). Does the Chinese soldier distinguish between your son and you?

K: If you live in the same house

J: I would hope so yes, because my son would be wearing a military uniform

K: Your son is a soldier in the army, but your neighbor’s son, for example, is not a soldier. Can a Chinese soldier say that all America is soldiers or that all America is soldiers among civilians?

K: I hope he is always well and safe

K: What I mean by my words is that if the soldiers are among the civilians, we cannot prevent them, otherwise we will be killed or accused of treason, so what is the solution?

J: Usually you can tell from the uniforms and you don’t fight near civilians. Unfortunately this is not how Hamas fights

K: This is true, there are no official uniforms and Hamas has civilians in it, so what is our fault?

J: Nothing is your fault. The civilians have always been used as pawns. Your lives could be so much better under different leadership. All the money given in aid goes to tunnels and weapons. And my understanding is that civilians also support Hamas. Until they want new leadership or they are destroyed I don’t think this will end.

J: There needs to be new thinking and I think it’s only possible with the children

K: If you trust me, make sure that civilians do not support Hamas, hate them, and do not want their rule since 2006.

J: But many of them do. Enough of them to keep helping them unfortunately

K: Therefore, do not say that civilians support Hamas and want them. Hamas does not serve us or protect us

K: Many of them, but not all

J: I know this my friend, you are an exception

K: Let us agree that one rotten tomato inside the box does not mean that the entire box is rotten.

K: It’s not just me, it’s me and most people like me

J: That’s really good to hear.

K: The important thing, my friend, is not that you hear this. The important thing is that you believe and trust this.

J: I believe and trust what you’re saying of course you would know best. And I’m happy to hear that. I also know Hamas are the only ones who seem to be fighting for Palestinians. So I don’t blame Palestinians for supporting them. They don’t seem to have good options.

K: Who told you that Hamas is fighting for Palestine?

K: Hamas is fighting for its interests with Iran and Hezbollah (in the name of Palestine), but they are not fighting for Islam nor for Palestine.

K: They lie to their soldiers, saying we are fighting for Islam, Palestine and Al-Aqsa Mosque, but in reality they fight when Iran asks them to do so.

K: brainwashing

J: wow

K: When Israel eliminates Hamas, everyone will live in peace. Let us mention some in the future

K: But what I wanted to convey to you is that not every Palestinian is Hamas and not every Palestinian opposes peace, so do not confuse this with that.

J: You know, none of this would be this way if men just let women run the whole world  

K: You accept that women rule the whole world. They are more merciful than men

J: No they can be just as bad. I do think more women leaders would be helpful.

K: Yes

J: But not ruling the world. That was a joke. We rule together  

K: Haha, I compromise for you 

Khalil recently sent me this recording of the view from his rooftop in northern Gaza with the caption:

The difference between destruction and life.

In Gaza, my friend is just trying to live. He is an educated, skilled and hardworking man who just wants a chance to support his family. When I ask him why we see bustling markets in the north and restaurants filled with diners he reminds me the difference is money.  “He who has money has life,” he said.

Khalil has no money, no aid and no work.

If you or anyone you know has work that he can do remotely, please consider giving him an opportunity. He was a talented photographer, videographer and editor before the war and still has most of his equipment. I was a community newspaper publisher for fourteen years and can attest that he would be the most objective “journalist” from Gaza you can possibly find.

I’ve taken great care to protect his identity, but please trust that his skills are genuine and his safety paramount. Contact me directly at sendmegoodthings@live.com if you have work for him.   

If he can’t leave, at least let him live with dignity.