We are two British women, with a shared commitment to reducing hatred and building a safer world for our children and grandchildren. We want a Britain where they can thrive in society without any trepidation about living their faith identity openly and with pride.

Right now, we are deeply concerned for the future of civil society given the flow of unprecedented toxic hatred terrifying and polarising everyone in its path. The war in the Middle East is fuelling hatred and extremist views which thrive on division and conflict.
Whilst both London based, professional and politically aware, we are embedded in our own communities bringing up our families to value their specific, unique culture and historical traditions. And, although we are of a similar age, we are from completely different racial and religious backgrounds. One of us is Muslim with a Sudanese/Jamaican heritage and one is Jewish – pure Ashkenazi four generations from the shtetl.

This Sunday, on the eve of October 7th, and with other like-minded women, we gathered together in Central London, in the welcoming space of an iconic church hall, to reflect, to mourn, to connect and to share our uncompromising rejection of hatred.

Laura Marks and Julie Siddiqi, joint founders of Nisa-Nashim, make one another a friendship bracelet (Photo: Yakir Zur)

Whilst the ‘Pro-Palestinian’ and ‘Pro-Israeli’ factions held large and separate marches and rallies, instead we held the centre ground standing in silence around the light from a single shared candle. We read poems, shared our fears for the future, and prayed for a peaceful resolution for both Israelis and Palestinians.

We did not try to find a political solution, a way to carve up the territory, or an answer to Iranian aggression; we doubt anyone would listen – particularly as we are all women! But we did talk about the agony of war, the trauma of Palestinian children and the desperate plight of the 97 remaining hostages. We shared our fears for our youth in a world where being Jewish or Muslim often feels taboo and political. Above all, we re-committed to how we refocus the national narrative on the importance of preserving and reviving our humanity.

This past year has been excruciating. As the massacres on October 7th in Israel, rapidly followed by the brutal war in Gaza played out in the region - and on our screens - tensions between Jews and Muslims in the UK have almost reached breaking point.

Polarised views grip the two communities allowing little room for nuance or discussion. The very intimation of the existence of multiple explanations for the current intractable conflict is off-limits. Even within the Jewish community, many people, filled with understandable existential fear for Israel and the Jewish people, cannot stand to hear a view which differs even slightly from their own. That divide is far wider between even moderate British Jews and Muslims who identify so closely with the religious identities, at the very least, of the warring parties.

Participants at the Nisa-Nashim event to mark the first anniversary of October 7 (Photo: Yakir Zur)

Jewish people’s identification with Israel is difficult for many Muslims to understand – British or Israeli seems an easy distinction for a non-Jew, but in reality they are inextricably interconnected for people with family, friends, and a shared history with Israel. Similarly, to explain the deeply sacred bond between British Muslims and the Holy Land of Jerusalem is akin to a birthright and not a covert ploy to disguise antisemitism.

Yes, there is antisemitism within Muslim communities – and yes, the language used about Muslim people amongst Jews can turn inexcusably prejudiced. But within Nisa-Nashim, the only Jewish/Muslim national network, we women are focussed on bringing our respective communities through this horrific period together. Our commitment is to eradicating corrosive hatred and racism from tomorrow’s Britain and imbuing hope for humanity in spaces far beyond right and wrong.

Laura Marks CBE is the founder of Nisa-Nashim and Dr Zaza Johnson Elsheikh is a trustee