Mothers Unite: Israeli and Palestinian Women Call for Peace

Published: 01 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

On the shores of the Dead Sea, mothers’ calls for peace echoed despite ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The focus keyword “mothers unite” resonated strongly as around 1,500 Israeli and Palestinian women held hands, demanding an end to relentless bloodshed. In October 2023, these women gathered for a joint rally organized by Women Wage Peace and Women of the Sun, symbolizing hope amid decades of hostility. Mothers unite, they said, to protect their children and challenge cycles of violence that have dominated their homelands for generations.

Yael Admi, 66, an Israeli mother of six, and Reem al-Hajajreh, 43, a Palestinian mother of four, emerged as the rally’s guiding figures. Their friendship, formed in 2019, became a testament to the power of joint action despite intense criticism. “People opposed my partnership with an Israeli after 7 October,” al-Hajajreh explained, reflecting on the day Hamas launched its deadly assault on southern Israel. That attack killed 1,200 people and triggered a massive Israeli response in Gaza, resulting in over 70,000 casualties, mostly women and children.

The trauma of these losses deeply shaped both women’s activism. Admi recalls losing her eldest brother during fighting in 1969, an event that influenced her lifelong commitment to peace. For al-Hajajreh, life in Bethlehem entails constant navigation through checkpoints, military incursions, and fear of sudden escalation. She traveled more than 30 hours to attend a human rights conference in The Hague in December, illustrating mothers unite across barriers to amplify their call for change.

At the conference, both women spoke about the devastating impact of war on families and communities. They highlighted the deaths of fellow activists, including Vivian Silver, a founder of Women Wage Peace, and over forty Palestinian women from Women of the Sun. “It is our losses that drive our determination,” Admi said, emphasizing that protecting children’s futures is central to their mission. Mothers unite to resist war, they insisted, asserting that women’s voices remain largely ignored in peace negotiations.

Al-Hajajreh stressed that women inherently oppose war. “We want our children to grow up safely and to witness a hopeful future,” she said, urging global leaders to recognize women’s perspectives. Admi reinforced this sentiment, explaining that no power can deter a mother from seeking her child’s safety. Both underscored that lasting peace requires partnerships between Israelis and Palestinians, drawing on historical examples with Egypt and Jordan. The women cautioned that without dialogue, hostilities will persist, and the region will face repeated cycles of violence.

In response, Admi and al-Hajajreh founded Mothers’ Call, a movement uniting Israeli and Palestinian women to urge global leaders toward courageous decisions. The group plans a symbolic walk from Rome to Jerusalem in March 2026, inviting world leaders and citizens to join and demonstrate solidarity for children’s future. The movement encapsulates their belief that mothers unite across borders, language, and conflict to insist on peace.

Despite differences in their daily realities and enduring personal losses, both women recognize a shared responsibility. “Motherhood and hope bind us together across divides,” al-Hajajreh said. Their story underscores that, even amid relentless grief, collective action rooted in compassion can challenge entrenched cycles of violence. Mothers unite, they declare, not only to protect their children but to inspire a broader commitment to lasting peace across the region.

The story of Admi and al-Hajajreh illuminates how ordinary women rise to extraordinary challenges, advocating for a world where children can inherit safety and stability. It highlights the indispensable role of women in peacebuilding and serves as a reminder that societal transformation often begins with those most affected by conflict. Mothers unite, bridging divides with courage and conviction, striving to convert grief and fury into a movement for hope.

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