In the Palestinian village of Al-Walaja, in the occupied West Bank, there grows an olive tree. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture, this tree is around 5,000 years old. Its branches extend around 13 meters skyward while its roots reach 25 meters into the ground. Like a number of its kind in Palestine, it is among the most ancient olive trees on Earth—possibly the oldest. Often depicted in artwork, these trees are a powerful symbol for Palestinian identity, with their roots representing ties to the land and their branches forced displacement from it. 

Olive trees are evergreens of the family Oleaceae. In shades of green and silver, their lance-shaped leaves are always paired opposite one another on the stems from which they grow—dual in form, yet branching from the same place. These trees are especially resilient. Their wood is resistant to decay, and when the upper portion of the tree does die away, a new trunk will often rise up from its roots. In the spring, they bloom clusters of small white flowers, some of which will produce olive fruits that will be ready to be harvested in the fall.

According to the United Nations, nearly half of all cultivated land in the West Bank and Gaza is planted with an approximated 10 million olive trees. Between 80,000 and 100,000 families in Palestine are estimated to rely on these trees—their fruits and oil—as primary or secondary sources of income. They comprise 70% of all fruit production and make up about 14% of the local economy. Olive trees are more than fruitful; they are vital to life in Palestine. 

Following Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s killing of 1,400 Israelis and capture of roughly 240 hostages on October 7, Israel has killed over 10,000 Palestinians. Per the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, Israel has dropped over 25,000 tonnes of explosives on the Gaza Strip in the last month—the equivalent of two nuclear bombs. This horrific violence has come during the peak of harvest season, which is important both economically and culturally. Farmers are being forced to flee their land from Israeli warplanes, as well as tank fires targeting farmlands. In the West Bank, Israelis have been documented setting fire to Palestinian olive groves before this past month. 

The heads of multiple United Nations bodies came together this week to issue a unified call for a humanitarian ceasefire. The 18 signatories said in their joint statement: “An entire population is besieged and under attack, denied access to the essentials for survival, bombed in their homes, shelters, hospitals and places of worship. This is unacceptable.” Hundreds of thousands of people around the world have taken to the streets to demand the same—including Jewish organizers who have made it clear that criticizing the Israeli government should not be conflated with antisemitism.

In an interview with CNN, Queen Rania of Jordan addressed criticisms from those who oppose a ceasefire, explaining that Israel’s bombardment on Gaza is both morally reprehensible and short-sighted: “The root cause of this conflict is an illegal occupation. It is routine rights abuses, illegal settlements, disregard to UN resolutions and international law. If we do not address these root causes, then you can kill the combatants, but you cannot kill the cause…So I think Israel needs to once and for all realize that if it wants its security, the surest route is through peace.”

Throughout history, the olive branch has been used as a symbol of peace. I do not believe that there will be peace without liberation for Palestinians; the roots of this tree need to be addressed. I also do not believe that there will be liberation without peace. The two grow together, leaves twining from the same branch. In order to cultivate a just future for all, for a new trunk to rise from the rot and ruin, this cycle of violence must be broken. And that starts with a ceasefire now.