On a glimmer of optimism – Netanel Gamss in Haaretz:

‘In Avi Zilberstein's car, there are photos of two men: Tsachi Idan, kidnapped from Kibbutz Nahal Oz and murdered in captivity by Hamas, and Omri Miran, his fellow kibbutznik, who was also kidnapped and is still believed to be alive.
"The Palestinians I drive see the photos. It's part of reality," says Zilberstein, 61, from Kfar Hess. "Some ask about them, and I explain. Others don't say anything, it makes them uncomfortable."

For the past eight years, Zilberstein has volunteered with The Road to Recovery, an NGO whose Israeli volunteers drive Palestinian patients from the West Bank (and, before the war, from Gaza) to hospitals in Israel and back.

Even though his three daughters objected, he returned to volunteering just a few weeks after October 7. For a time, he didn't even tell them, not wanting to worry them. Even now, they ask why he keeps doing it.’

(…)

‘Did you know you'd keep volunteering after October 7? "There was no doubt in my mind. I knew this initiative had to be preserved. I treat it like a calling. I'm not motivated by revenge, I believe in striving for peace. This work isn't a burden. It actually lifts me up. I love starting my day this way."’

(…)

‘Do you talk during these rides? "Most of the time, it's quiet – I don't speak Arabic. Right after the massacre, some Palestinians would express sorrow about what happened. Lately, the conversations are more about how hard it is to make a living now that they're not allowed into Israel, the difficulties getting around, delays at checkpoints."
Zilberstein still tries to connect, asking about their medical conditions and wishing them good health. "I don't want it to feel like a taxi ride," he says.’

(…)

‘Before the war, about 30 percent of the NGO's rides were for Gaza patients, the rest from the West Bank. On October 7, seven of its volunteers were murdered: Adi Dagan, Eli Orgad, Vivian Silver, Haim Perry, Hayim Katsman, Tami Suchman, and Oded Lifshitz.
"There were a few volunteers who told us after October 7 that they couldn't keep doing it," says Yael Noy, CEO of The Road to Recovery. "Others chose to focus on local volunteer work instead."
But demand from the West Bank has skyrocketed. "Some days we're doing 80 rides," Noy says. "We've also had many new volunteers join. We now have 1,300 registered volunteers – 800 of them drive regularly, about once every week or two."’

(…)

‘The NGO operates on a budget of 2 million shekels a year – mostly to reimburse fuel for those who request it. When the war broke out, donations from Israeli sources dried up, as money was redirected to urgent local needs. Support from Europe and the U.S. has kept it afloat. A fundraiser is planned for September 9, featuring performances by the Batsheva Dance Company, Rona Kenan, Achinoam Nini, and others.
"We were already driving patients on October 8," says Noy. "And we haven't stopped since. What matters most is that we're able to respond to nearly every request."
While the IDF shells a hospital in Khan Yunis, voices like Zilberstein's, Sarid's and Zayud's offer a rare glimmer of optimism.’

(…)

‘In the midst of horror, some people still manage to weave fragile threads of trust – hoping they'll hold through the chaos and shockwaves of rising violence, and one day lead to something better.
"I hope things return to how they were before October 7," says Zayud. "Maybe even better. In the end, both our peoples just want to live in peace."’

Read the article here.

In war zones there always attempts to keep life as normal as possible, as I witnessed from nearby in 2007 in Iraq.

In war zones there are also rare acts of kindness, sometimes you have to act in order to remain a Mensch.