“Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is the presence of justice, the shelter of dignity, and the restoration of hope.”

3 October 2025 – day 728 of the war between Israel and Gaza.

More than 66,000 people have now been killed in Gaza.  This includes 2,580 people killed while seeking humanitarian aid and at least 455 deaths due to starvation.  48 Israeli hostages are still held in Gaza by Hamas and a further 30 hostages are confirmed or believed to be dead.

On 29 September 2025, during a joint press conference at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump unveiled the US-ISRAEL PEACE PLAN,  a 20-point proposal aimed at ending the war in Gaza and reshaping its future. Here’s a summary of its key components:

SUMMARY OF THE PLAN

CEASEFIRE AND HOSTAGE EXCHANGE

• Immediate end to hostilities if both sides agree.
• Within 72 hours of Israel’s acceptance:
• All hostages (alive and deceased) held in Gaza returned.
• Israel releases 250 life-sentence prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7, 2023.
• For every Israeli hostage’s remains returned, Israel releases the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.

DEMILITARIZATION AND AMNESTY

• Gaza to become a “deradicalized, terror-free zone.”
• Hamas to be excluded from governance.
• Hamas members who disarm and commit to peaceful coexistence granted amnesty.
• Safe passage offered to Hamas members wishing to leave Gaza.

HUMANITARIAN AID AND RECONSTRUCTION

• Full aid flow begins immediately upon agreement.
• Aid includes:
  • Infrastructure rehabilitation (water, electricity, sewage).
  • Hospital and bakery restoration.
  • Equipment to remove rubble and reopen roads.
• Aid distribution managed by UN, Red Crescent, and neutral international agencies.

GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT

• Gaza governed temporarily by a Palestinian technocratic committee, apolitical and focused on public services.
• Oversight by a new international body, the “Board of Peace,” chaired by Pres. Donald Trump, with members including Tony Blair.
• Long-term redevelopment guided by international experts until the Palestinian Authority completes reforms.

PATHWAY TO STABILITY

• No forced displacement; Gazans may leave and return freely.
• Economic zone proposed to attract investment and create jobs.
• Conditional pathway toward Palestinian statehood, pending reforms and regional security guarantees.

PROMISES OF THE GAZA PEACE PLAN

• Immediate Ceasefire: All military operations would halt upon agreement, potentially ending two years of devastating conflict.
• Hostage and Prisoner Exchange: Israel would release over 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences, in exchange for the release of all Israeli hostages and remains.
• Demilitarization of Hamas: Hamas must dismantle its weapons and tunnel networks, reducing future security threats.
• Amnesty and Safe Passage: Hamas members who disarm and commit to peaceful coexistence may receive amnesty or be allowed to leave Gaza.
• No Israeli Annexation: Israel pledges not to annex or occupy Gaza, aiming to reassure Arab states and international observers.
• Technocratic Governance: Gaza would be administered by a non-partisan Palestinian committee vetted by Israel and supported by Egypt, avoiding Hamas control.
• International Oversight: A “Board of Peace,” chaired by President Trump and including figures like Tony Blair, would oversee reconstruction and governance.
• Reconstruction Aid: Billions in aid pledged by Arab states and donors would be coordinated to rebuild Gaza’s infrastructure and economy.

PITFALLS OF THE GAZA PEACE PLAN

Even though every effort towards a lasting peace plan should be applauded, there are several significant concerns being raised about the current US-Israel peace plan, especially by human rights advocates, regional analysts, and faith-based justice communities.

Here’s a breakdown of the most pressing concerns:

1. Lack of Palestinian Representation

• The plan excludes Hamas entirely and offers only tentative roles for the Palestinian Authority.
• Governance is proposed via a technocratic committee, not elected by Gazans.
• This raises questions about legitimacy, agency, and self-determination.

Concern: Peace cannot be imposed without the meaningful participation of those most affected.

2. Conditional Sovereignty and External Control

• Gaza would be governed under international oversight, chaired by Donald Trump and managed by foreign experts. The idea of Trump chairing Gaza’s oversight body raises questions about legitimacy, neutrality, and long-term viability.
• So, While Israel won’t “occupy” Gaza, it will maintain a security perimeter, which many Palestinians may still view as occupation.
• The plan envisions a “deradicalized, terror-free zone”, which critics say could justify military surveillance and political suppression.

Concern: This risks turning Gaza into a monitored enclave rather than a liberated homeland.

3. Coercive Framing and Threat of Force

• The plan includes threats of intensified military action if Hamas rejects the terms. If Hamas rejects the plan, both Trump and Netanyahu have signaled that Israel will “finish the job,” implying further military action.
• It offers amnesty only to those who disarm, with safe passage for those who leave Gaza but it leaves others vulnerable to targeting.

Concern: Framing peace as a reward for surrender undermines reconciliation and deepens trauma.

4. Humanitarian Aid Tied to Compliance

• Aid and reconstruction are contingent on acceptance of the plan.
• While promising infrastructure and medical support, it risks instrumentalizing relief as leverage.

Concern: Humanitarian aid should be unconditional and rooted in dignity, not diplomacy.

5. Global Optics vs. Local Realities

• The plan is endorsed by high-profile figures like Tony Blair and Emmanuel Macron, but grassroots voices from Gaza are largely absent.
• It may serve geopolitical interests more than genuine peacemaking.

Concern: Without local ownership, the plan may entrench injustice under the guise of progress.

APPROACH

The current US-Israel peace plan requires both discernment and courage. Here’s a framework that will assist us to engage faithfully:

1. Read the Plan Through the Eyes of the Marginalized

The 20-point proposal promises ceasefire, reconstruction, and transitional governance. But:

• Who benefits most? The plan preserves Israeli security levers while offering Palestinians conditional statehood.
• Who is excluded? Hamas is sidelined, and the Palestinian Authority is only tentatively included—raising concerns about legitimacy and representation.
• Who decides? A technocratic committee and international oversight may sound neutral, but without grassroots Palestinian input, it risks being imposed rather than owned.

Approach with a bias toward the oppressed. Ask: Does this plan restore dignity, agency, and justice for Gazans—or merely manage their suffering?

2. Name the Power Dynamics

This is not a neutral peace plan. It’s shaped by:

• US-Israeli strategic interests, including Netanyahu’s political survival and Trump’s desire for a diplomatic legacy.
• Threats of force if Hamas rejects the deal, with promises of “finishing the job”.
• International optics, with figures like Tony Blair and Macron urging acceptance while ignoring deeper structural injustices.

Approach with clarity about coercion. Peace without justice is not peace—it’s pacification.

3. Hold Space for Prophetic Imagination

Even flawed plans can be moments of reckoning. This one:

• Opens a window for hostage release and humanitarian aid.
• Risks entrenching external control and conditional sovereignty.
• Could be a catalyst for grassroots mobilization, theological reflection, and global solidarity.

Approach with prayerful resistance and creative hope. Ask: How can we amplify Gazan voices, challenge unjust terms, and embody a peace that flows from righteousness?

PEACE THAT DISRUPTS FALSE COMFORT

Jesus unsettles our illusions of peace.

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” — Matthew 10:34

This is not a summons to violence, but a call to courage—where true peace confronts injustice, not comforts it.

Christ, the Prince of Peace, does not endorse peace built on dominance or silence.  Peace forged through power will fracture.

But peace born of mercy—costly, cruciform, enduring—will remain.