Searching for humanity in times of moral turpitude

I unequivocally condemn avoidable acts of violence that traumatize either Israelis or Palestinians, most especially the children.

Many of us have personal connections or experiences that lead us to believe we have a greater understanding of the causes and consequences of the tragic events in the Middle East than most. We do not. It’s a tremendously complicated situation. However, as a person with expertise in the impacts of trauma, violence, and family separation, my reactions are laser-focused on the devastating long-term and intergenerational effects of children killed and injured, and families torn apart on both sides of the ongoing conflict.

It's vital that we understand the situation from a historical perspective all the way through to the humanitarian consequences of the current war. Israel is a tiny nation surrounded by Arab counties with large terrorist cells, largely backed by Iran, that are committed to the eradication of Jews and destruction of Israel for thousands of years. Gazans are indoctrinated with that message in their schools and homes from the time they are young. To survive, Israel must project immense military strength to survive. And they have a right to defend themselves in response to the horrific acts perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th, 2023.

However, the actions of all nations must be carried out with humanity and minimal collateral damage.

Despite the complexities in the Middle East, it can be simply stated that Hamas is unilaterally to blame for triggering this war. Hamas occupies Gaza through force and intimidation, exploiting, oppressing and neglecting their Palestinian citizens. And as nihilists, they are a threat to world order, with a self-imposed mandate to destroy Israel, commit genocide against Jews, and endeavor to kill Americans.

To achieve this objective, Hamas burned and slaughtered babies and children, raped women, taken hostages, and mutilated and murdered hundreds of others, with the intention to provoke a military response by Israel that would incite and justify attacks on Israel by militant forces across all Arab nations. And they are using Palestinians as human shields, anticipating that Israel would kill them in an effort to weed out Hamas. It was all part of the plan.

In stark contrast, the IDF does not burn babies, rape women, or torture innocent people, nor does it exploit its citizens or engage in genocide against any group. We need to remain mindful of the fact that this war was sparked by unspeakable acts of violence on Israelis by Hamas. Their military infrastructure must be dismantled to avoid further suffering.

Given these obvious differences in intentions and methods, clearly, there are NOT “good people on both sides” in the Hamas versus Israel equation. But, at the same time, it can also be true that both are wrong. I am opposed to the killing of innocent people, regardless of their race, religion, geographic location, or other demographic characteristics. As such, Israel must protect innocent Palestinians.

Fundamentally, this war and the anti-Semitic and Islamophobic actions that have surged since it began are rooted in deeply held racist attitudes, beliefs, and practices at their worst. In the U.S. alone, anti-Semitic acts have increased 388% during this time. If we do not appreciate the roots of this problem and react appropriately, racist views and violence will continue to intensify throughout the world.

So yes, I am taking sides: PEACE versus VIOLENCE, BENEVOLENCE versus HATE. The call to action for me—in my role as a Jew, a mother, the daughter of a historical scholar, the wife of an American veteran, a trauma scientist, and an activist—is to promote the creation of environments where everyone is valued, and violence is not used to resolve issues. I stand behind this central tenet and ask that all people, including governments and those in positions of authority, embrace the principles of nonviolence and anti-racism.

Diana Fishbein, Ph.D., is a senior scientist at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She is also the president of the National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives.