An ethno-photographic view of life in war times beyond the frontlines.
This is part of a photography project aimed at offering a fresh perspective on the multifaceted realities of war. While mainstream media inundates us with images of frontline violence—showcasing active attacks, death, and the harrowing conditions of war zones—what remains unseen are the everyday lives of those not directly engaged in combat. It is easy to forget that there are real people striving to maintain their existence amidst the turmoil and that life goes on despite the horror.
This is a continuous project focusing on both individual and collective dimensions, aiming to spark empathy, dialogue, and action in response to the complex challenges posed by war and conflict through…
Increased Awareness and Understanding:
By showcasing the daily experiences of individuals in the air of conflict, the project aims to raise awareness and deepen understanding of the human impact of war beyond the frontlines. Through empathetic storytelling and visual documentation, viewers can gain insight into the lived realities of those navigating conflict-affected regions.
Promotion of Empathy and Compassion:
Through the presentation of diverse perspectives and emotions captured in the photographs, the project seeks to evoke empathy and compassion among viewers. By humanizing the narratives of individuals from different backgrounds, the project aims to foster connections and solidarity across geographical and cultural divides.
Critical Reflection and Dialogue:
The project encourages viewers to critically reflect on their perceptions of war and conflict, prompting questions about the nature of resilience, morality, and responsibility in such contexts. By sparking dialogue and discussion, the aim is to contribute to broader conversations about the ethical implications of war narratives and the role of empathy in shaping responses to conflict.
Cultural Exchange and Understanding:
Through the global sharing of the project's outcomes, the project facilitates cultural exchange and mutual understanding. By highlighting the shared humanity of individuals affected by conflict, regardless of their geographic location or cultural background, the project promotes a sense of interconnectedness and solidarity among diverse audiences worldwide.
Inspiration for Action:
The project aims to inspire action and advocacy in support of peace-building efforts and initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of conflict. By amplifying the voices and experiences of those affected by war, the project seeks to galvanize support for policies and interventions that promote peace, justice, and reconciliation in conflict-affected regions.
Surveillance in Hebron
During my second trip one thing that I wanted to do was to spend more time in Hebron. I wrote extensively about Hebron (H1 and H2) during my first visit. I spoke about the settlements, the old town, the hostility...and so on my second trip I really wanted to learn more and grasp more. Words cannot describe how it feels to be in Hebron. I ended up going multiple times and the intensity was never not felt. Surveilance is everywhere. IDF soldiers saunter through the old market constantly. I know an ex IDF soldier who during his service was assigned to Hebron. Hearing and living the different experiences is truly puzzling and heartbreaking.
The soldiers in these photos were not kind. They led with intimidation. So when I found out that someone I had befriended had also done this service, it immediately made me wonder about them. It felt like such an inhumane experience to witness and my many Palestinian friends in Hebron can speak endlessly about living in it constantly. So how could anyone do it?
Study after study has shown that social influence, situational force, power and authority, loss of identity, the environment, conformity, and systems can transform people into the most corrupt, immoral, vile versions of themselves. The person I befriended would absolutely no longer do it. At the time,he was young and he believed going in that his job was to keep things peaceful between the Palestinians and settlers. Now he is an advocate for a borderless society (and world).
It still leaves me with the question of how do we change this? How do we remove the dehumanization and create new social influences to treat each other with respect, kindness, and tolerance? How do we circumvent the situational forces and instead create systems that enable equity, not power imbalances?
The Children of ‘Aida Camp
"Welcome to Aida Camp, the most tear dropped place in the world"
On my way to the refugee camp, I met a little girl. She came up to me on the street. She clearly chose me because I looked foreign and she wanted to practice her English. She asked basic questions like my name, age, if I had sisters or brothers. She asked where I was going, and when I told her, she told me that was where she lives. She took it upon herself to show me the way which included a big road - one direction was Aida, the other, she said, was towards Israel. She told me that was the road the Israeli soldiers take. I asked her if that happened often. She said yes. Because the sign outside Aida says they're the most tear gassed, I tell her that's really sad. She looks at me and tells me it's okay (still smiling) because it happens a lot...implying she's used to it. She is only 7 years old.
Watching the children, I saw absolute joy, excitement, and wonder. I sat with some of the adults. They told me earlier in the day, some of the kids had been arrested. I asked what for and they shook their heads saying they didn't do anything. They mentioned, sometimes they throw rocks but that day they hadn't done much. One of the kids came up and mentioned that one of the ones arrested was his 14 year old cousin. I asked how long they took them for and was told it could be years. They really don't know. I was frustrated. The kids infront of me were anything but troublesome. They were happy and running and not minding their circumstances. The irony was not lost on me as we sat infront of the UNWRA building. I pointed and asked if they did anything to try to stop this. I was told of course not. They don't want to risk funding and they don't get involved in politics. I couldn't understand how the random detainment of children fell under politics and wasn't just a humane concern to have.
For anyone wondering how this can happen - I urge you to look up administrative detention:
"In administrative detention, a person is held without trial without having committed an offense, on the grounds that he or she plans to break the law in the future." Many countries have similar laws but the burden becomes to not let it be abused. This is abuse.
"The United Nations verified 3,133 grave violations against 1,139 Palestinian children (1,057 boys, 82 girls) and 8 Israeli children (5 boys, 3 girls) in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and Israel. The United Nations verified the detention of 852 Palestinian children for alleged security offences by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem (527), including 17 held under administrative detention. The United Nations received the testimonies of 82 children who reported ill-treatment by Israeli forces while in detention. "
- United Nations General Assembly Security Council, 77th Session
I connected with an amazing woman who is part of an organization that provides legal assistance to children in detention, which includes documenting such practices and international advocacy for change of such laws and practices. This is how I started getting into humanitarian documentation.
Protests in Jerusalem
Demonstrations continue to grow in number and escalation as Israelis protest against the government and call for an immediate election. It was truly powerful to stand amongst the people as they lit flares, fires, and poured (fake) blood throughout the streets. Whatever it took to get attention as they stood in front of Bibi's residence - begging for this to end now and for a new age of leadership to take office.
Protesters covered in fake blood take the streets asking to replace the government and condemning the bloodshed.
Many people asked me what was something surprising that I had learned while being there in person. The list is quite extensive, but one of the things is that it challenged what an Israeli looks like for me. Like many others, I had this image of Israel being a very white, homogeneous society. However, that perception is false. Beyond the fact that there are many immigrants from all over including refugees (which adds another layer of how the society is functioning when it comes to basic humanitarian policies), there are many jews of non European backgrounds - Arab jews, African jews, etc.
These photos I took because they subvert the idea that it is black and white (or literally brown and white in this case). It shows a small part of what I experienced, which was that oftentimes, the border police that I came across were a shade of brown. I had many conversations with Palestinian friends about their relationship with Arab jews. I had many conversations with Jewish friends about the idea of the model minority.
I felt like this was important to add to the narrative because it is a key part of understanding what is happening. I've spoken to quite a few Arab and African jews who told me they voted in the government (not that they necessarily still support it - for various reasons) but for them, they faced horrible prosecution in their respective countries and they finally felt like they had a place to belong which fueled their strong nationalism.
Following Israeli activists who opposed the ongoing onslaught in Gaza. Something about this man stood out to me. Perhaps it was his solemn expression as he held up the picture of one year old Reevana- killed. Perhaps it was that he was doing it as things continued to move around him - people protesting, people hugging, people speaking...and I felt it was a good representation of the experience I was having.
South Hebron Hills
The South Hebron Hills has faced significant escalation in violence from Israeli settlements. Since last October, attacks have increased, forcing many families to flee. Communities in Area C, such as Wadi Siq, have experienced intense pressure as settlers—sometimes accompanied by individuals in military uniform—have stormed homes, fired ammunition, and looted property. This violence has led to forced displacement, leaving families without basic necessities and disrupting children’s education as families move from one location to another seeking safety.
I spent time here with a group of Jewish (Israeli and abroad) civilians who joined the nightwatch. The idea is that settlers are less likely to enact violence or eggriously misbhave if jews were present (and foreigners) recording and standing in their way. It is not an easy job. It requires many sleepless nights as you have to be on patrol. The idea was to hopefully make a difference. If the government wasn't stopping it, perhaps individuals standing in solidarity could do so. A few nights before I joined them, settlers had gone and beaten a few people. The day I joined them, the settlers had cut the water supplies. This wasn't facing a fictious threat. This was facing an eminent one.
One positive light was the bravery and selflessness of those willing to risk their lives every day to stand there. Should they have to? No, but it shows that as dark as things are, there are people willing to stand against odds to try and make a difference. And that's where change can come from.
If I had known earlier in my journey, I would've spent much more time there. As it was, I could only dedicate two days. I pray on my return it won't be necessary.
Peace Camp Tel Aviv
One of the reasons that brought me back the second time was getting the honor to photograph the Peace Camp event "It's Time"". It was amazing being surrounded by Jewish and Palestinian activisits, politicians, and voices looking to join forces to create a unified front for creating long lasting peace and a future together. The energy in the room was felt. The call for the violence, unfair treatment, systematic division and oppression, hatred...to end was palpable. Thousands gathered demanding for an end and for a new start with peace.
Bedouin Camps - West Bank
I was truly privileged to not only be allowed into the Bedouin community but also to be allowed to take photos. The Bedouins are nomadic people living off the land facing large-scale displacement. These photos are from a community in the West Bank that I visited.
Life in Neve Shalom
"Storytelling has emerged in recent centuries as perhaps the most powerful way to connect strangers and to bring unprecedented levels of compassion and empathy to human social life and political transformation." - The Anteater and the Jaguar
I became friends with the author, Rayek Rizek, who wrote this book about life in the intentional community. He was one of the earliest members, is well known in the community and abroad through his literature, and has even served as mayor. He spoke of his gratefulness to the early pioneers who believed enough in the future of the community to persist in their common dream and fight to make it a reality.
Not only is he a friend but he is a great inspiration believing, much like myself, that "you can't hate people after you have heard their stories, and the act itself of telling a story has become part of what affirms our humanity". He does it with his pen. I do it with my camera.
He writes about his experience as a Palestinian Israeli, as an activist, as a historian, and as a community leader in the bold Neve Shalom experiment in coexistence. I will share some of the quotes that stood out to me in my story (highlights), but I recommend also reading it. He's currently working on an amendment taking into account current events and how that has shaped his, and the community's belief around peace building.
As for the community, they have experienced quite a lot of push back (not getting additional land rights, tougheneing governance, etc), despite this, there is a long waiting list to move in - it shows even in the darkest times, there are people who choose to fight for and create a different reality.
