After one year of devastation, it’s time to find a path to conflict resolution in Israel and Palestine.

As an American of Palestinian origin, I never thought this horrific war that started in October 2023 would still be going at full force in October 2024. The level of destruction and loss of life is staggering. In Gaza, more than 42,000 people have been killed, 70 percent of them women and children; 95,000 people are injured without proper medical support as only 10 hospitals are still partially functioning; more than 86,000 homes have been completely destroyed; 2 million of 2.3 million people are internally displaced, representing 87 percent of the population living in makeshift shelters or on the streets; 17,000 children are orphaned or separated from their families; and 625,000 school-age children are being denied an education, not only this year but most likely next year as most schools have been damaged. Are they the children of a lesser God?

The saddest part is that the world keeps watching from a distance, allowing this suffering to continue, even after Israel achieved its goal of eliminating Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Oct. 16. As the EU’s Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell Fontelles said, “Gaza was before the war the greatest open-air prison. Today it’s the greatest open-air graveyard.”

As for the West Bank, since the beginning of the war, over 600 people have been killed during various incursions and 5,500 injured, including 850 children. Some 1,900 people have been displaced from their homes due to demolitions.

No human life is more precious than another.

The economy is collapsing due to three main factors. First, the crash of the travel-related businesses primarily affecting Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Second, the revocation of most work permits that Israel used to issue to Palestinians from the West Bank to access daily jobs in Israel, affecting as many as 100,000 breadwinners. These workers are actively being replaced by others from various countries around the world. Third, the suspension of the transfer of tax revenues collected by Israel to the Palestinian Authority since October 2023, deeming the PA unable to pay salaries to approximately 180,000 civil servants since then. With this, unemployment is at record highs with no prospect for relief soon.

My hope is that all faith leaders who call the Holy Land home intensify their prayers and put pressure on political leaders to take action so that a permanent ceasefire is declared, leading to an end of this devastating war and a clear path toward a peaceful conclusion to this decades-old conflict – a conflict that began over 75 years ago, not on Oct. 7, 2023.

My hope is that a ceasefire will lead to a just and lasting peace, and the right to self-determination for the Palestinians with peace and security for the people of Israel.

Neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis are going anywhere. They need to all share the land in peace, coexistence, respect and dignity. No human life is more precious than another. We are all created equal in the image of God and deserve a dignified life.

TONY SALAMEH is a retired restaurateur who previously owned and operated fine dining establishments in Carmel, including Anton & Michel for 42 years. He has lived in Monterey since 1973.