Whoever Loses Empathy Loses Peace

History reminds us of one truth: Humanity easily drifts into brutality when it acts without thinking. In the midst of wars, occupations, and conflicts, the value most often lost is empathy. Yet, empathy is not merely an individual virtue; it is also one of the fundamental necessities of politics. Seeing the suffering of the other side, understanding their fears, and meeting on the common ground of humanity is the first and most critical step toward peace.

Today, Gaza is laying this truth bare before the eyes of the world. Children, hospitals, and homes are being targeted; deaths and destruction are defended under the pretext of "self-defense." When a state's policies are the result of a systematic indifference carried out under the guise of security, it becomes difficult to speak of humanity. Considering the genocide Israel experienced in the past, one would expect it to bear the responsibility of showing empathy; instead, what is happening is being reduced to numbers: "How many people died, how many buildings were destroyed, how many rockets were fired." Every number represents the extinguishing of a human life.

This tragic reality clearly shows that a lack of empathy deepens conflicts and renders human life invisible. At the point reached today, empathy—the fundamental element for resolving conflicts in the Israeli-Palestinian issue—has almost completely disappeared. The traumas experienced by Palestinians become invisible amidst the security concerns of Israeli society. Human life is reduced to numbers, and while comparisons are made between losses—"They lost a lot, we lost a little"—conscience is pushed into the background. As Tolstoy put it, "a person is human to the extent that they can feel the pain of others." When we lose empathy, oppression becomes inevitable.

The international community is bringing the "two-state solution" proposal back to the agenda. Many countries are taking steps toward recognizing Palestine as an independent state. While these diplomatic initiatives are important, lasting peace cannot be achieved solely through agreements on paper. True peace is built with mutual empathy and human sensitivity. When we stop seeing the face of the other side, violence and oppression become inevitable; however, when we establish empathy, the paths to peace and negotiation open up.

Empathy is not just an emotional effort; it is one of the most difficult and critical tasks of politics; it allows us to understand the fear of a Palestinian child, the anxiety of an Israeli mother, and the steps to be taken for peace. Peace is not expensive; it does not require tanks, planes, or missiles. The only thing required is empathy and conscientious politics.

The tragedy unfolding in Gaza today clearly shows the destruction created by politics conducted with a lack of empathy. If politics is reduced to numbers and security justifications, human life becomes invisible. However, when empathy exists, the direction of politics changes, and dialogue and healing become possible. In foreign policy, empathy is not a luxury but a necessity. The language of peace begins in the heart first, and only then does it become truly sustainable. In the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the foundation of peace must be built with both political will and human sensitivity.