Weekly Blog - 30 October 2023 - Israel/Gaza Peace Plan

Israel/Gaza peace plan

Once again this week the focus of the world continues to be on the unfolding tragedy in Gaza and Israel. Previous Arise weekly blogs have looked at the current conflict in Gaza and Israel, as well as the historic background, and what our theological position as Christians should be. These recognised that nations have a right to use limited and proportionate force to protect their citizens, but also that the current devastation of Gaza goes well beyond this. They also showed that a military response alone (even if proportionate) will never end this or any conflict, and that parallel efforts to restart peace talks are essential. This week we look at what the elements of a lasting peace in the Holy Land could be. As Christians we should always be seeking negotiation, compromise, reconciliation and a permanent and fair peace in all conflicts. As Jesus tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matt 5: 9). The Arise Manifesto (Arise’s Biblical, researched and holistic vision for a better world) contains detailed analysis of what the Bible says and what all the lessons from around the world would teach us about the best way to bring about reconciliation and peace in conflicts (Arise Manifesto, pg 89 – 90, 129 – 136). Of course the final details for any negotiated peace are for Israeli and Palestinian negotiators to decide, not anyone from outside the country. Nevertheless, this week we offer some suggestions for what could be offered as a peace plan for the Middle East.

Humanitarian tragedy

But first, let us remind ourselves of the current state of this crisis. It is now almost a month since the horrific incursion by Hamas from Gaza into Israel, which left more than 1,300 innocent Israeli civilians (men, women and children) dead, 4,562 injured and 224 taken as hostages into Gaza. Israel’s response has been hundreds of airstrikes against Hamas in Gaza, which are also causing widespread suffering to innocent Palestinian civilians (men, women and children), since Hamas sites are intricately embedded in civilian areas. More than 7,649 Palestinians have been killed and over 19,328 injured. Over a million people, half the population of Gaza, have moved to the south of the territory in response to Israeli warnings. Israel has also launched a ground offensive in the north, and closed all its borders with Gaza and shut off the flow of all electricity, fuel, food, goods and water supplies into Gaza. Only extremely limited humanitarian access has been allowed through Gaza’s border with Egypt. A humanitarian catastrophe is now occurring. There is huge risk of the conflict escalating, not just in Gaza, but also with the Palestinian population of the West Bank, and with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. There is unspeakable suffering on all sides. The BBC reports the story of just one Palestinian family, Ahmed Alnaouq’s father, three sisters, two brothers, a cousin and 13 nieces and nephews were all killed in a single Israeli airstrike. “Still, after a week, nine of them are under rubble” he says. “No-one can take their bodies out from under the rubble. I don't know how to describe it, but I feel like my heart is torn.” ^[1] Meanwhile Israeli citizens also suffer from Hamas rocket strikes, and the vast majority of the hostages continue to be held. Hostages like Evyatar David who the BBC reports was attending a music festival on Saturday 7 October when Hamas gunmen attacked. He called his brother as he ran from the gunfire with dozens of others. Then the family lost all contact with him, until much later his sister received a text from an unknown number showing video footage of Evyatar sitting handcuffed on the floor in a dark room.^[2]

What could the elements of a peace deal be?

So what might the elements of a realistic lasting peace deal be, around which negotiations could begin that can provide some hope of being able to move beyond this tragedy? Any such deal will involve compromise by both sides. But what should each side offer that can show willingness and a desire for peace, and begin the long process of rebuilding trust? Let’s look at what each side should offer …

Israel should offer

An immediate end to all bombing and military ground incursions into Gaza and the West Bank.
To immediately end the occupation and all claim on the Palestinian territories which Israel took in the 6 Day War of 1967, and which have never been recognised since then by the UN and the international community. This would mean the immediate withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza and the West Bank.
To withdraw all Israeli settlements from the West Bank.
Recognition of the West Bank and Gaza as an independent Palestinian nation (a crucial element in the famous two states solution).
Normalisation of border relations between Israel and the new Palestinian nation. The usual border restrictions between nations should be in place to manage the flow of people and goods across the borders (visas, permits etc.). This should include security restrictions to keep both sides safe from incursions by the other. But there should be no blanket closing of borders or creating unfair and impossible barriers to the flow of goods and people.
Give Gaza a proper port and sovereignty over the waters next to it.
Significant aid and support from Israel and the international community to help get the new Palestinian nation established and thriving as a prosperous and peaceful neighbour.
Joint reconciliation programmes between the two nations to help normalise, heal and reconcile relationships.

Palestine should offer

An immediate end to all rocket firing, incursions, terrorist activity and other violence addressed towards Israel.
Where such violence continues by extremist groups, the authorities and security forces in Palestine should work in coordination and partnership with those in Israel to bring extremists to justice.
Recognition of Israel as a state and its right to exist in its pre-1967 borders.

Peace talks – the only way

If those who want peace on both sides could reach out and offer those things, contingent on the other side reciprocating, perhaps a path back towards a fair and lasting peace can be found. The road to peace will be a long one from here. But there is no end to the cycle of violence if retaliation is the only response, and generation after generation on both sides will continue to suffer. There must also be renewed efforts by both sides to reach out for peace and begin to turn the views of the majority on both sides towards peace, isolating the extremists. As impossible and as far off as that might seem at the moment, all of the lessons of the Bible and recent history would indicate that even in these darkest of days it is the patient, prayerful and persistent attempts to reach out, find common ground, and work towards peace, that ultimately holds the only possible way to end this tragic conflict. It is the right thing to do and it is the only option.

Find out more

Find out more about how God is at work in the world, and the role we all have to play in that work, in the Arise Manifesto. This report is Arise’s big picture, researched, Biblical, holistic and practical vision for a better world. It looks at what the Bible says, and what we can learn from the best data and the world’s leading experts on the five major areas of evangelism, discipleship, social justice, development and the environment. It then draws these lessons together into a practical road map for the changes we need to see in our world, which the Arise movement campaigns to achieve.

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[1] Anguished UK Palestinians grieve for loved ones in Gaza, BBC, (31 Oct 2023), https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67266873

[2] Hamas hostages: Who are the people taken from Israel?, BBC, (31 Oct 2023), https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67053011