Years from now, will we all still remember how we reacted when we heard the news of Oct. 7? Did we gasp at social media posts? Did we stare at the TV in horror? For some of us, did our thoughts immediately leap to loved ones on another continent?
The attack and the ensuing events remind the Palo Alto High School student body and our wider community that our connections stretch across the globe. Many students attend school daily while their focus is on their family and friends abroad — in the Middle East, the Far East, Latin America and beyond.
In “7,435 miles away,” Culture Editor Divya Gandhi and Social Media Manager Chloe Huang chronicle the stories of local community members who are being personally affected by the Israel-Hamas war.
In our editorial, we write about our gratitude for our school board members who have done their best to respond to the impacts here at home.
Although the conflict in the Middle East has sparked divisiveness in our local community, moments of unity shine through, both in the school board and elsewhere. Huang and Editor-in-Chief Asha Kulkarni showcase one such moment — a multifaith vigil promoting peace — in the photo essay “Candlelit community.”
As editors, we believe that this conflict, with its deep historical roots and wide-reaching impact, cannot be ignored. The effects carry emotional weight and trauma for many. While this issue is complex and polarizing, we felt that as student journalists working to support our community, we had to address it. And for all of you who have been impacted, know our hearts are with you.
On the Cover
Retired Stanford staff member Becky Fischbach advocates for the de-escalation of hostilities following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the retaliatory bombing of Gaza at the Embarcadero Road crossing in a picture taken by photographer Kensie Pao. Members of the Peninsula/Palo Alto branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and others gather Fridays at noon at the corner of Embarcadero and El Camino Real in Palo Alto to advocate for peace and other human rights issues.
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