When Israel’s strikes on Iran cancelled flights and closed borders in June 2025, most international programmes would have been called off. Instead, five young people—Palestinians and Israelis—were determined to continue with their planned journey across America, sharing their personal stories and engaging in dialogue about one of the world’s most difficult conflicts.

A Mission Born from Crisis

The summer of 2025 brought intense violence and crisis to the region. In this context, the Daniel Braden Encompass Trust launched a two-part initiative: sending participants to Project Common Bond, a peacebuilding programme hosted by Dignity Beyond Borders, followed by embarking on a nine-day public speaking tour titled Voices from a War Zone, wherein they would recount their lived experiences to audiences across the northeastern United States.

The goal was to create spaces where young Israelis and Palestinians could challenge assumptions, confront divisions, and explore alternatives to violence, while bringing their voices to American communities that rarely have direct access to such personal perspectives.

The trip was particularly significant because, in recent years, movement restrictions and rising violence have made in-person programming extremely difficult. Recruitment relied heavily on young people who already had US passports, which is why this year’s group was mostly made up of young women.

The Facilitators

The group was accompanied by Karen Abuzant and Daniel Noah Moses, long-time colleagues who have worked together since 2007. Karen, a Palestinian educator from East Jerusalem, has decades of experience in trauma-informed peacebuilding, and has worked with Encompass for the last thirteen years. Daniel, an American-born educator and facilitator, has dedicated much of his career to fostering understanding between Israelis and Palestinians through Seeds of Peace and other initiatives. Together, they brought warmth, structure, and deep expertise in navigating conversations across conflict.

Karen reflected:

“This delegation came together despite immense fear and uncertainty at home. It was inspiring to see such courage from the very first day.”

Daniel added:

“Their voices cut through the headlines, bringing humanity to a conflict often seen only through numbers and news reports.”

The Participants

Five brave young people participated in this journey:

• Sanad, a 27-year-old mental health counsellor and Palestinian citizen of Israel from northern Israel, brought both professional expertise in trauma and personal experience navigating life across different communities.
• Shahd, from northern Palestine, and Hiba, from central Palestine, shared powerful personal stories of life under occupation.
• Sara, from northern Israel, and Hannah, from central Israel, spoke about their experiences of loss and their commitment to peace and justice.

Sanad also stepped up as an interpreter and guide, helping his Israeli counterparts cross into Jordan when flights from Tel Aviv were cancelled, showing remarkable initiative and care for his peers.

When Nothing Went to Plan

The logistics became complex when Israel’s military actions against Iran on 13 June disrupted all travel plans. Palestinian participants had to wait for the Jordan bridge to reopen, while Israeli participants travelled through Jordan instead of flying directly from Tel Aviv. The preparation meetings originally planned had to be cancelled; participants couldn’t meet while people were sheltering from missiles. This meant Karen and Daniel faced the challenge of building trust and group cohesion once the tour actually began.

Building Trust from Uncertainty

Four participants—Shahd, Hiba, Sara, and Hannah—completed a week-long peacebuilding programme at Project Common Bond at the Kripalu Center in Massachusetts. This programme, running since 2008, brings together young people from around the world who have lost family members to terrorism, war, or mass violence. Over 1,300 young adults from 37 nations have participated, focusing on developing conflict management, empathy, and leadership skills.

The programme revealed the depth of differences between participants, reflecting the scale and impact of the current conflict. As a result, the Palestinian and Israeli participants arrived for the Voices from a War Zone tour carrying some unresolved feelings, and so careful attention was required to build trust between them.

A Journey Across Communities

Albany, New York
The tour began in New York’s Capital District, building on four years of relationship-building in the local community. A welcome brunch brought together 35 people, including community leaders, the head of the Jewish Federation, and members of organisations with different perspectives on the conflict.

At Westminster Presbyterian Church, Congressman Paul Tonko and state senators attended. Shahd spoke about losing her father to Israeli gunfire and her mother being shot while pregnant with her. Sara spoke about her friend still held hostage in Gaza. The personal stories were difficult to hear but created genuine connections with the audience, many of whom stayed afterwards for extended conversations.

Lenox, Massachusetts
At Kimball Farms senior living community, the group spoke to an older audience. The event built on previous community work and was well-received, with thoughtful questions and positive engagement.

Vermont
Manchester Center in Vermont proved challenging. Without established relationships in the community, the audience dynamics were tense. Questions became more hostile, focused on demanding political solutions rather than listening to personal experiences. Some attendees felt the speeches and presentations were unbalanced.

The experience was difficult but educational, highlighting how crucial community preparation and relationship-building are for such sensitive events.

Greenfield, Massachusetts
Following the difficulties in Vermont, participants made an important decision to revise their speeches, speaking with greater honesty about their personal experiences. At Temple Israel synagogue in Massachusetts—the first synagogue most Palestinian participants had ever visited—over 100 people filled the room.

Though the rabbi had received warning calls about the group, he welcomed everyone warmly, saying: “Don’t worry. We have your back.” The evening became one of genuine dialogue, with thoughtful questions and meaningful conversations continuing long after the formal programme ended.

Portland, Maine
The final event took place at the University of Southern Maine. Many in the audience had connections to Seeds of Peace, where Karen and Daniel first met, and several participants had attended programmes as teenagers. The presentations showed remarkable growth; participants spoke with confidence and eloquence developed over the course of the tour.

The group spent their final day at a cottage on Casco Bay, where Palestinian participants experienced something meaningful: time by the sea. For people whose movement is restricted at home, this simple pleasure carried special significance.

Impact and Legacy

The tour reached several hundred people across five states and received media coverage. Sara was even interviewed on WAMC Northeast Public Radio about her experience and what the tour meant to her (available to listen here). Beyond the immediate audiences, the impact continues through relationships formed and ongoing conversations.

Participants developed their public speaking abilities and grew as leaders and as individuals. Communities engaged with personal perspectives they rarely encounter together in one setting.

Perhaps most importantly, the tour demonstrated that meaningful dialogue across profound differences remains possible, even during periods of intense conflict. The genuine engagement from various communities showed potential pathways for broader change.

The Courage to Continue

At a time when many would choose to stay silent, five young people decided to share their personal experiences publicly. They spoke honestly about difficult moments in their lives, engaged thoughtfully with challenging questions from audiences, and showed that their generation continues to seek alternatives to violence.

Their presentations brought human faces to a conflict often seen only through news reports, demonstrating that behind the headlines are young people with personal stories, hopes for the future, and commitment to finding peaceful solutions.