After the Ceasefire: Israelis and Palestinians on Hope and Empathy

One year ago, we spoke with Israelis and Palestinians about the ongoing conflict. We asked how the war with Hamas was affecting their capacity for empathy and compassion for the other side. This fall, following a temporary ceasefire, we revisited those conversations. We wanted to understand what, if anything, had changed for them. The responses reveal a profound and shared erosion of hope. Interviewees from both communities described feeling emotionally exhausted. Many stated that their ability to feel compassion had been deeply damaged by the past year's violence and loss. For some, the ceasefire period offered only a brief pause for grief, not a path to reconciliation. They reported a hardening of positions and a greater focus on their own collective suffering. The findings suggest that the human cost of the conflict extends beyond physical casualties. The psychological toll—marked by diminished empathy and widespread despair—presents a significant obstacle to future peace.