As I release this, today marks one full year since the atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel, and the beginning of a horrendous campaign of genocide that Israel began in Gaza as a result. Violence that has, in the past week or so, spread into surrounding territories as the western world sits back and watches.
Today's guest, Cole, is a visual journalist, capturing stories through photos and videos. While many of us were simply getting on with our lives, Cole left the safety of Aotearoa New Zealand for the land of Palestine, spending two months in and around the West Bank.
Cole shares stories of the people he met, the resilience he saw, and the oppression that they face in everyday life. What Cole describes is both heart-warming and heart breaking. It gives some understanding as to why things exploded a year ago, and why this so far from Israel simply defending itself.
Cole tells the stories of humans who are trying to keep their humanity and dignity in an environment that is dehumanising and oppressive. He also challenges us about what we are doing to help give hope to those for whom life has become quite hopeless.
This is one of the most important conversations I feel like I've ever had on this podcast. And that is no slight on all the amazing conversation partners I've had so far. But this one just has a weight to it. For that reason, wanting to do this conversation some justice, I didn't stop us to fit my usual timings, and so this episode is much longer than my others. It felt like it needed to be. Feel free to listen in smaller chunks as you are able. Cole and I specifically discuss some of the stories behind some of his photographs and videos, so you may want to go check them out on his Instagram page before listening.
See below for a range of resources to become educated on the situation, and to keep up with what is going in in real time. Check out the amazing list of resources at Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine and follow them on Instagram.Find Across the Divide Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Here is a 90min Course, "Deconstructing Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians" from Amnesty InternationalAnd read this Open Letter from Palestinian Christians to Western Church Leaders and Theologians INSTAGRAM accounts to follow:@cole.in.a.box @christians4peaceaotearoa @christatthecheckpoint @youthofsumud @mohammadhureini @samihuraini
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