In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Laila Alsheikh, a Palestinian from Bethlehem and a member of The Parents Circle-Families Forum, a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization of over 700 bereaved families. Laila shares the deeply personal and tragic story of losing her six-month-old son, who died after being denied timely passage through an Israeli checkpoint for urgent medical care. She recounts her journey from profound grief and anger to joining the organization, detailing a pivotal moment where she came face-to-face with the soldier responsible, only to find shared humanity and a path toward reconciliation. The conversation explores the organization's mission to use shared pain as a bridge for dialogue, advocating for an end to the cycle of violence. Laila emphasizes that the solution to the conflict lies not in political sides but in ensuring equal rights, freedom, and dignity for all, and calls for an end to the conflict so that no other families have to endure such loss.
Laila Alsheikh lives in Bethlehem in the West Bank. In 2002, her 6 months old son, Qussay, became ill and Israeli soldiers prevented Layla from taking him to the hospital for more than five hours. Qussay soon died from the lack of timely treatment. Laila joined the Parents Circle in 2016. Following her son’s death, she never thought of revenge, but rather has devoted her time and energy to ensuring a better, more peaceful future for her children.
The Parents Circle - Families Forum is a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization made up of over 800 bereaved families. Their common bond is that they have lost a close family member to the conflict. But instead of choosing revenge, they have chosen a path of reconciliation. Through their educational activities, these bereaved members have joined together to take tens of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis on journeys of reconciliation. It is often raw and always emotional. But out of these interactions, comes change. Not the kind of change that makes headlines, but a more personal and profound shift in perspective.
As a joint Israeli-Palestinian peace organization, the PCFF models constructive dialogue around shared values. Even since October 7th, 2023, its staff, members, and thousands of participants are still committed to peace and a way forward that centers around empathy and humanization. The PCFF focuses on the shared value of the sanctity of human life. This conversation brings our attention to the values that Palestinians and Israelis can agree upon even in the darkest of times.
Links:
Website: https://www.parentscirclefriends.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParentsCircleFamiliesForum/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parentscirclefriends/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepcff?lang=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-friends-of-the-parents-circle-families-forum