After two horrific years of bombardment and blockade, we welcome news of a possible reprieve from the violence and genocide in Gaza and a return of all hostages. Any pause that spares lives is an opportunity to begin the long and difficult work of healing and rebuilding lives.
A lasting peace will require real guarantees, justice and accountability, an end to the occupation, the restoration of robust humanitarian aid, and long-term peacebuilding. Fragile ceasefires have broken down in the past, including, most recently, Israel’s violation of its ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. We urge all parties to the agreement, including the United States government, to turn the world’s hopes for peace in Palestine and Israel into reality.
We urge all parties to the agreement, including the United States government, to turn the world’s hopes for peace in Palestine and Israel into reality.
The deal announced by President Donald Trump reportedly follows a 20-point framework drafted by Israel and the United States, but the terms remain troublingly vague. Under the proposal, all Israeli hostages are to be released within roughly 72 hours after Israeli Cabinet approval in exchange for the release of around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, primarily women and children taken from Gaza after October 7, 2023. Hostage releases could happen by Monday, October 13. We pray for the full and swift return of all these loved ones to their families.
Humanitarian aid is expected to return to pre-war levels — about 600 trucks a day — meeting the UN’s minimum standard for survival, but not enough to ensure true recovery after two years of relentless destruction. Aid should never have been cut off in the first place and humanitarian access must never be used as a bargaining chip for political concessions. We urge the U.S. to restore UNRWA funding immediately. The so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) should be defunded due to its repeated violations of international law.
Equally concerning is the complete lack of Palestinian representation in these negotiations. This deal was crafted without the people most impacted — raising serious questions about its long-term viability and the future of Palestinian self-determination and governance. Reports that the Palestinian Authority’s return to Gaza may depend on dropping its International Court of Justice case would set a dangerous precedent. Accountability for war crimes and respect for international law should never be bargained away.
We urge robust accountability measures to ensure violations of international law are investigated and all perpetrators are held accountable. The United Nations (UN) — through both the Security Council and General Assembly — should approve international guarantees and use all its leverage to ensure the bombardment stops and aid flows freely. The UN and journalists must also be granted full access to Gaza.
To secure this fragile peace, Congress and the administration must halt new offensive arms sales to Israel. We urge all members of Congress to seize this opportunity for peace and to support the Block the Bombs Act and the Joint Resolution of Disapproval on new weapons transfers. Hostages must not be returned only for the cycle of war and genocide to begin again.
This moment could mark the beginning of healing but only if it is rooted in justice.
For a lasting peace to take hold, Israel must withdraw from Gaza. This moment could mark the beginning of healing but only if it is rooted in justice. Palestinians deserve freedom, safety, and dignity. Israelis deserve to live under a government that prioritizes their safety and wellbeing.
Lasting peace will only come when it is built on equality between Israelis and Palestinians, self-determination, accountability, an end to the occupation, and the right of all people to live free from violence and with dignity for themselves and for future generations.