Even from a distance of thousands of miles, the last week was difficult, painful and deeply unsettling. Between refreshing news and checking up on family and friends, there was a sense of loss and a mighty dread that I felt. I cannot even begin to imagine the anxiety among those whose neighbourhood was pierced by the ugly sounds of drones, missiles and sirens. I am not sure I will ever be able to understand the fear of the unknown that enveloped households in the whole region.

Much was shared online, and through WhatsApp messages. Some of it was thoughtful and empathetic, but quite a lot of it was not. There were doctored videos, old images and half-baked stories with bombastic claims. There were also videos of destruction - much of it unverified. There is much to be grateful for today, as peace is an extraordinary privilege and a gift, but also........

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