The world is currently grappling with heartbreak and devastation. The recent conflict in Israel and Palestine has left many heartbroken, seeing the devastation and loss. With thousands of lives lost on each side, a call for action and peace is the need of the hour. More than 1,600 people have tragically lost their lives since the Hamas militant group launched an assault on Israel from Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, “We are at war.” In this moment of devastating loss on two sides and with immense ongoing turmoil, Lindsey Vonn, the legendary Alpine Skiing megastar, has raised her voice to share her heartbreak with the world.

Lindsey Vonn stands in advocacy

In a recent Instagram story, Lindsey Vonn reposted an image from Jordan C. Brown-Underwood that reads, “It is absolutely reasonable and logical to be opposed to the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY calling for the protection of Jews in Israel and around the world. Hamas is a terrorist organization that is attacking civilians by land, air, and sea. The images of kidnapped Israelis are shocking and devastating. Given the thousands of years of persecution of Jews, please know that your Jewish friends – even if they are not in Israel – are hurting and are fearful when things like this happen, and non-Jews are silent”.

The post continued, “I understand many of us are afraid to voice an opinion because the crisis there is so nuanced and hard to understand, and we are afraid of saying the wrong thing. But we can – and must – always use our voices to denounce terrorism and the senseless murder of civilians.” Vonn added a praying hand symbol and a heart emoji, showing her support for the lives lost.

The turmoil that has shocked the world

The death toll continues, and a spokesperson from the Israeli Embassy has shared a reported death count of at least 900 citizens, with the majority being civilians, according to IDF international spokesperson Lt. Col. (Res.) Jonathan Conricus. Nearly 2,500 people have been injured. The conflict began at a music festival near the Gaza border called Supernova when militants launched a surprise attack on the innocent concertgoers.

The militants have captured over 100 hostages, including children and senior citizens. On the other side of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported that nearly 765 people lost their lives in the bombings Israel conducted in retaliation. 3720 people were wounded, including hundreds of young people. This attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, a territory controlled by Hamas, is an escalation in the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict and tragically unfolded almost 50 years to the day since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

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In these trying times, as the world watches in grief, Vonn’s heartfelt gesture serves as a reminder that humanity, compassion, and the hope for peace are the needs of the hour.

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