The Last War: A Proposal for Peace

Maoz Inon
on October 2, 2024

On the morning of October 7, 2023, my life changed forever. On that horrific day, I lost both of my parents in the Hamas attack on Nativ HaAsara. The pain and grief accompany me every day, but alongside that pain, a determination has emerged: to dedicate my life to reconciliation and peace. In the face of personal loss, I came to realize that the only response to violence is to build a different future – for all of us.

The violence of the past year has left deep scars on Israeli and Palestinian families alike. For decades, we have witnessed cycles of pain, fear and destruction, with each side trapped in a narrative of loss and retaliation. Today, nearly a year after the horrific October 7 attacks and the subsequent devastating military operations, we stand at a critical crossroads.

While the immediate priority must be to achieve a ceasefire, free the hostages, and bring an end to the violence, we must be clear: a return to the status quo would be a failure. History has shown us that without a plan for lasting peace, we are doomed to repeat this tragic cycle. The real work, the work that could end the conflict for good, begins the day after the hostages are released and a ceasefire is in place.

The Need for Peacebuilders, Not Just Politicians

The path forward cannot rest solely on the shoulders of politicians and government officials. Trust between Israelis and Palestinians is at an all-time low, and faith in leadership on both sides has eroded. Instead, the real hope for peace lies in the hands of those who have already begun the difficult work of reconciliation – peacebuilders, civil society activists and ordinary people who dare to believe in a different future.

However, Israeli peace activists cannot succeed alone. To pave the way for meaningful change, three essential elements are required:

  1. Financial support from the international community to fund peace initiatives.
  2. Guidance from conflict resolution experts and survivors of other wars who understand the complexities of rebuilding trust.
  3. Political will from global leaders to make peace a priority, beyond just the headlines.

Our Core Principles

At the heart of any peace initiative must be the shared belief that all lives are equally valuable. We reject the hatred that fuels antisemitism, Islamophobia and collective punishment. As peacebuilders, our guiding principles are simple but powerful: Every person deserves to live in peace and security, without fear for their lives. This war must be the last one. We owe that to ourselves, our children and generations to come.

The Road to Peace is Long, But it Begins Now

To achieve a sustainable resolution to the conflict, we peace activists propose a number of steps that can serve as a roadmap:

  • An immediate, permanent ceasefire brokered by the US, EU and UN intervention.
  • Support for democratic reforms within the Palestinian Authority, allowing younger Palestinians to enter politics without fear.
  • Backing Israel’s democratic protest movement, which calls for equality and a return to the democratic principles under threat from our current leadership.
  • Enacting UN Resolution 1325, ensuring that women are part of future negotiations.
  • Broadening international sanctions against those promoting violence, whether Israeli settlers or Palestinian terrorist organizations.
  • Amplifying the voices of peacebuilders on both sides, who are often drowned out by extremists.
  • Ending the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, ensuring the viability of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
  • Creating a Marshall Plan-style economic initiative to rebuild both Gaza and Israeli communities ravaged by the war.
  • Deploying an international peacekeeping force to ensure the safety of both Israelis and Palestinians as they rebuild.

As we work to achieve these goals, we must remember the words of Gandhi: “There is no road to peace; peace is the road.” The work of peace cannot wait until after the guns fall silent. It begins now – with every conversation, every effort to understand the other, and every step we take to ensure this war is the last.

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Maoz Inon is an Israeli peace entrepreneur who founded several peace-focused tourism initiatives. After losing his parents in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, he became a leading voice for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

This piece is part of a series of reflections from the J Street community. Read the rest of the reflections here.