After two years of war in the Middle East, Israel and Hamas have agreed to terms to end the violence. As the world collectively breathes a long sigh of relief, Israel will cease its relentless bombing campaign and forced starvation on the Palestinian people in Gaza. Hamas will return the remaining Israeli hostages, Palestinian prisoners of war will be released, and desperately needed humanitarian aid will be permitted into the war-torn region of Gaza. Establishing lasting peace, however, will require the courageous and humble will of global citizens like us.

Peace is often fleeting or temporary because peace demands justice. Justice is when all parties are allowed to heal, be restored into full community with their neighbors, and reconciled by memorializing the past and committing to one another’s sovereignty, well-being, and belonging. Peace is not when the guns and bombs go silent, but when they become an unnecessary tool for deterrence. Peace is the radical transformation between those who once saw the other as an enemy.

Establishing lasting peace requires the courageous and humble will of global citizens like us.

The physical scars in the Middle East on both the people and the land are unmistakable. Over 60% of Gaza’s buildings are damaged or leveled, an estimated 68,000 Palestinians have been killed, two million of Gaza’s residents displaced, nearly 1,200 Israelis were murdered in the initial terror attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and Gaza still remains surrounded by walls, barbed-wire fences, and tanks.

The sights, sounds, and stories of violence from two years of war will leave lasting memories and the marks of trauma for an entire generation. This is on top of the preceding scars from decades of fighting, distrust, violence, and oppression of the Palestinian and Israeli people. To end the cycle of conflict with both ancient and modern roots, the global community must see the welfare of others as a necessary requirement to their own flourishing.

The announcement of a ceasefire is what millions of everyday citizens around the world have been marching, speaking out, and campaigning for. Justice is not achieved by violence, retribution, or annihilation of an enemy—it only creates more conflict, anger, and distrust. There are no winners in war despite the victory laps many will attempt to take. Hunger abounds, children are still suffering, hearts are calloused by grief and loss, and the traumas of war are just as scorching as the midday sun over the ruinous landscape that remains.

To end the cycle of conflict with both ancient and modern roots, the global community must see the welfare of others as a necessary requirement to their own flourishing.

Peace is a project achieved by the will of the people and brokered by appointed or elected leaders on our behalf. We celebrate this week’s ceasefire because we, as global citizens, prayed for and demanded it. Brave journalists and everyday people who documented the horrific stories of war in real-time awakened our collective consciousness to seek an end to this evil. Social media activists and humanitarians amplified the stories and images, and used their platforms to gain the attention of hundreds of thousands of people like us. Although violence at a mass scale is waged in places far from our everyday lived experiences, the drama was felt at home, and restorative peace can begin with us in small but significant ways.

Peace is achieved through justice that upholds the humanity—life, freedom, and flourishing—of all our neighbors. This is not a naive fantasy, but possible when people seek common ground over self-interest and zero-sum competition. A movement of justice and peace is attainable when more people practice, share, and mentor others to lead with compassion over apathy. Compassion can become a second-nature response in times of pain and conflict when we choose to see the world through the eyes, experiences, and history of others. Compassion recognizes their stories are just as important as our own—nor greater or less. 

Peace is achieved through justice that upholds the humanity—life, freedom, and flourishing—of all our neighbors.

Today, we hold on to the prospects of justice in the Middle East where both Israelis and Palestinians can coexist, but also thrive together. Their success will be the result of a radical commitment to healing, restoration, and reconciliation over generations of division and distrust. The past does not have to dictate the future, but the stories and pain must be shared, acknowledged, and mourned.

The future belongs to all living beings, and that work begins now—in Israel and Gaza and at home, work, and school. Peace is the outcome of the belief and will of the people who courageously advocate for non-violence and the pursuit of restorative justice. We can keep hope alive because together, we’re building a better and peaceful tomorrow.

Hope and Justice For All

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