By Yossi Mekelberg

It is hard to digest that it has been a year since Oct. 7, 2023. Twelve months, 52 weeks, 365 days, yet there is no end in sight to this war or the suffering, and to what end? Late last month, I visited the holy land for the first time since the war began, fully expecting to meet two traumatized societies trying to cope — to the best of their abilities — with the losses they have suffered while the war is still raging.

Despite the asymmetry in power between the Israelis and the Palestinians, both endure a profound sense of fear, distrust in one another and in their own leadership, and doubts as to what the future holds for them. With stalled negotiations over a ceasefire and with no prospect for the return of the hostages, along with the escalation between Israel, Hezbollah and Iran, the mood was naturally gloomy, but not hopeless.

One of the first places I visited was Kibbutz Nir Oz, a community that suffered some of the worst carnage on Oct. 7. Of its 400 residents, 57 were killed and 76 kidnapped. Nir Metzger, a member of the kibbutz, volunteered to show a colleague and me the destroyed houses. Nir’s father was kidnapped and killed in captivity. His mother, who was also kidnapped, was released through the first deal with Hamas, in return for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners.

He surprised us with his calm and measured manner as he described his own battle for survival during the attack, his protection of his young family and the loss of his beloved father. Just before we left, we asked him about the future of relations with the Palestinians. Despite everything he and his family have experienced, Nir said with no hesitation........

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