Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah meet Pope Francis at the "Arena of Peace" event in Verona on 18 May 2024 (VATICAN MEDIA Divisione Foto)
Vatican City: In a powerful joint appeal, Maoz Inon (Israeli) and Aziz Abu Sarah (Palestinian), renowned peace activists dedicated to reconciliation, have issued a fervent call to end the escalating cycle of violence gripping the Middle East and threatening global stability. Their plea, echoing the sentiments of Pope Leo XIV and previously Pope Francis, underscores a fundamental truth: the choice between war and peace remains humanity's to make.
Having recently met with Pope Leo XIV in May 2025, following their embrace by Pope Francis at the "Arena of Peace" event in Verona in 2024, Inon and Abu Sarah represent a living testament to cross-border cooperation. "We are a Palestinian and an Israeli peacemaker who have buried family members because of war and violence," they shared. "We know its cost. We know its unbearable weight. We know the silence of mourning, the pain of absence, and the devastation that violence leaves behind. This is why we raise our voices today: to plead for peace and to say, unequivocally, that these wars must end."
The ongoing escalation between Iran and Israel, coupled with the devastating death toll and destruction in Gaza, is not merely a regional crisis; it is a profound assault on the "moral conscience of the entire world." They lament that countless innocent individuals and families are "caught in a storm they did not choose," yet those in positions of power persistently opt for conflict.
Inon and Abu Sarah assert that violence is never a sign of strength, but rather "the failure of imagination and moral leadership." War, they contend, is the desperate decision of those devoid of wisdom and compassion, reflecting "incompetence and moral bankruptcy." They issue a direct challenge to leaders who propagate the dangerous illusion that "bombs bring safety or that domination creates peace," stating such individuals should not be trusted with humanity's future.
Despite the grim realities, Inon and Abu Sarah offer a powerful counter-narrative: "We know there is an alternative. We are a living proof. We know that our future is intertwined and that we are not destined to be enemies forever. A different path is not only possible, it's the only moral path."
Their work for peace has brought them into contact with numerous Iranians over the past 18 months, ordinary people who, like themselves, "long for an end to violence." As the current conflict intensifies, they have received an outpouring of messages from Iranians globally—in Europe, the United States, and within Iran itself—all pleading for the cycle of destruction to cease. "Their voices are clear: they do not want this war," they emphasized, sharing one poignant message: "I am writing to you from Iran, from the heart of a people who know the pain of war, but still dream of peace. I want to thank you for being a voice of hope, for speaking when it’s easier to stay silent, and for believing in humanity when it feels like the world is falling apart."
They declare, "We are not alone. We are not a minority. These voices of peace exist across borders, and they must be amplified."
The activists firmly believe that the peoples of Israel, Palestine, and Iran are not defined by violence. Their communities are rich in "history, resilience, and creativity." Yet, this inherent creativity is tragically consumed by conflict. They pose a compelling question: "Imagine what we could build, what beauty we could offer the world, if we redirected our energy toward peace."
They call upon all who believe in justice, equality, reconciliation, and human dignity to "rise from the ruins left by political failure." This rising, they assert, must be imbued with the spirit of shared faith traditions Jewish, Christian, Muslim all of which uphold the "sacredness of life and the necessity of peace." The holy scriptures, they remind us, are unequivocal: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." They stress that "Our faith is not a weapon. It is a bridge. It must unite us, not divide us."
To those in distant lands Italy, Europe, Latin America, and beyond who might perceive these conflicts as remote, Inon and Abu Sarah issue a grave warning: this is a "dangerous illusion." Citing Martin Luther King Jr.'s timeless wisdom, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," they caution that "War is never contained. Its flames leap across borders, dragging the world closer to catastrophe. This is how the world has stumbled into war before."
They recalled Pope Leo XIV's words from their recent meeting: "For the road to peace involves everyone and leads to the fostering of the right relationships between all living beings. As John Paul II pointed out, Peace is an indivisible good, it is either everyone’s or no one's."
The warning signs are already evident, they contend, from India and Pakistan to North Korea, from Gaza to Sudan and Yemen, and from Ukraine and Russia to the DRC. "Each new conflict brings us closer to the edge." The belief that more war will prevent worse outcomes is a fallacy, they argue, as "history teaches us the opposite. Every war makes peace more fragile. Every war brings us closer to nuclear devastation."
This stark reality underpins their unwavering belief in complete nuclear disarmament, not just for Iran or Israel, but for all nations. "There is no moral justification for any country to possess weapons capable of destroying life on Earth," they declare.
The daily suffering deepens: Gaza is being decimated, the West Bank endures unprecedented violence, and Israeli and Iranian families live under constant threat. This war, they observe, "does not isolate; it connects. It connects sorrow to sorrow, death to death." Yet, they offer a profound alternative: "But we believe we can connect hope to hope, and humanity to humanity instead."
Acknowledging their profound anger and fear, they recognize its "deep and powerful" nature, akin to a nuclear force, with the easy temptation to use it for destruction. Instead, they have chosen to "transform it into light," channeling their rage, fear, and grief "into something sacred: into diplomacy, healing, and peace."
"We are not neutral. We are not detached victims. We are witnesses. We are survivors," they state with conviction. "We speak now because we know exactly what war brings. And it is never a lasting peace."
Crucially, they emphasize humanity's inherent agency: "We always have agency." The choice is clear: "We can seek vengeance, or we can embrace reconciliation. We can follow the logic of weapons or the logic of diplomacy. We can remain captives of history, or we can shape a new future."
Their message concludes as a testament of faith, not as an excuse for inaction, but as a demand for responsibility. "True faith is not passive. It acts. It builds. It protects life." They stand committed to the vision articulated by Pope Francis at the Arena di Pace: "Peace will never grow out of mistrust, walls, or weapons pointed at each other. Saint Paul said, 'You reap what you sow'. Let us not sow death, destruction, or fear. Let us sow hope!"
Inon and Abu Sarah declare their unwavering commitment to "sow hope and work for peace even in the darkest of times."