This past spring, several Members of Congress visited Gaza. Their visits were the first to Gaza by U.S. officials in three years, and came not long after the 22-day fighting between Israel and Hamas had come to an uneasy end.

The Members visited schools and hospitals in the densely populated Gaza Strip. At least 18 schools were destroyed and another 280 damaged in the fighting. Few repairs have been carried out, as Israel is not allowing reconstruction materials into Gaza.

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) staff also traveled to Gaza this spring and again in July. MCC sent blankets and relief kits to Gaza earlier this year, and continues to support partner organizations like the Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA), which provides educational and cultural programs for children, youth and women.

CFTA's program director, Majeda Al Saqqa, described the current sense of desperation to MCC staff on their most recent visit. "We are desperately in need of hope. We live with a constant fear of not knowing what will happen next."

Of the 1.5 million people crowded into Gaza's 139 square miles, 56 percent are under the age of 18. Unless circumstances change, these young people's only image of Israelis will involve tanks and bombs.

It is in the long-term interest of both Israelis and Palestinians to reach a negotiated, just settlement. President Obama has indicated this will be a high priority for him, and former Senator George Mitchell has been active in his role as Special Envoy.

But both sides will need to make decisions that will not be easy or popular. Some Palestinian leaders need to continue to make progress on security issues which are of great concern to Israelis. A key step that Israelis could take would be to end the economic siege they have imposed on Gaza.

During this month's August recess, more Members of Congress plan to visit Gaza. As the Obama administration continues its efforts, Members of Congress need to hear that their constituents strongly support a negotiated, just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Pray and act, that all might be able to live "under their own vines and fig trees" (Micah 4:4) and no one, in Gaza or Israel, will need to live in fear.

Congregations are invited to pray and act for international debt relief on Sunday, October 25. Find out more at <http://washington.mcc.org/life>.

Resources:

• To learn more about MCC's blanket project and relief kits: <http://mcc.org/kits/comforters/> and <http://mcc.org/kits/relief/>

• An Open Letter to Mennonite Church USA Congregations--Becoming Peacemakers in Israel/Palestine: <http://peace.mennolink.org/resources/palestineletter/>