Any guys/women from Gaza here? As an Israeli atheist, I would love to speak to you about all we've gone through. A group chat, if you want. Discord wo
Any guys/women from Gaza here? As an Israeli atheist, I would love to speak to you about all we've gone through. A group chat, if you want. Discord would be nice; send me a DM. Toxic people will be reported.
I have lived in Israel most of my life. I was born in Russia and moved to Israel when I was young. I grew up in a kibbutz, then studied and moved to Haifa—which is arguably the most diverse city in Israel. I lived with Muslims, Druze, Arab Christians, Jews, non-Jews... You name it. I have always been surrounded by different cultures, and I appreciate that.
Since October 7th, something has changed in our world, in our perception, and I admit it has changed mine as well. It’s hard not to be affected by the things happening around us. That is exactly why I would like to sincerely talk with people on the other side. I'm especially interested in talking to you to understand the opposing gender's point of view from Islam's perspective, though I am open to talking to anyone who wants a real conversation.
I want to hear your honest opinions on difficult questions: why did you let Hamas take over? Why are Jews seen as bad in your society? Why is Israel viewed as the occupation in your eyes? I have my own perspectives, but I want to hear yours without filters. However, I'm not interested in just exchanging text in a chat. Text is too easy to misunderstand. I want a live conversation with a human being, so emotion can be shared from both sides. Maybe even a video share of moments from both our lives so we can actually see each other's reality.
Sometimes I think about what human life really is, and how much of our existence is shaped just by where we happened to be born. I deeply believe we are all human first. Even when there are massive borders between us—physical walls, mental barriers, national identities, and religious differences—we are being artificially separated from each other. Too often, our only connection to the "other side" is through the news, politicians, or the extremists who shout the loudest. I want to completely bypass all of that noise.
My ultimate goal here isn't to sit and debate who is right or wrong historically, or to score political points. My goal is genuine understanding. Both of our societies are going through immense trauma right now, experiencing a kind of grief that is hard to put into words. If there is ever going to be a peaceful future in this region, I truly believe it has to start with conversations exactly like this one—regular people choosing to look past the endless conflict and see the human being on the other side of the fence.
If you are open to a respectful, honest, and safe conversation, please reach out. Let's build a tiny bridge of empathy, even while everything else around us seems broken. Looking forward to hearing from you.