After 471 days of relentless violence, devastation and investigations around the claims of genocide1 in Gaza, ACT Alliance welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire agreement. We also express our satisfaction with the agreement to release the detainees and hostages that have been held captive by both parties. We thank all those who supported the demand for a ceasefire and the respect of humanitarian principles and human rights for all civilians. This emerging agreement marks a critical first step towards an end to the war, the loss of lives and the widespread suffering.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the countless families who have lost loved ones and to those who have been displaced or injured. The toll of this prolonged conflict has been profound, affecting every aspect of life, including access to essential services, education, and basic human dignity. This moment of respite must be a time for reflection, solidarity, and urgent action. We underscore the need for a long term and sustained ceasefire that ensures peace, security and justice in the region.
ACT Alliance urges the international community to maintain pressure on all parties to respect the agreement and not to violate it to keep hope for a better future alive. All parties should abide by the agreement after completion of the first phase. All possible efforts must be made to keep the borders open for humanitarian assistance and peoples’ movement from and to Gaza. We reiterate our position that violence and aggression cannot build peace; the only path to peace and security is through justice that upholds the Palestinian people’s rights, especially their right to self-determination. This is a call to not only support the immediate cessation of violence but also to address the profound injustices and root causes of this conflict. The world must ensure that the people of Gaza are not once again abandoned in their time of greatest need but are instead met with compassion, solidarity, and the means to rebuild their lives.
The future is vague and unclear. The scale of destruction is staggering, Homes, schools, hospitals, and vital infrastructure have been obliterated, leaving survivors to navigate a landscape of grief and ruin. As families begin to return to what remains of their homes, they are confronted with the harrowing reality of loss—the absence of their loved ones, the trauma of violence, and the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from the ashes. This moment of respite must be a time for reflection, solidarity, and urgent action. As faith-based organizations, we maintain hope and faith in this process, and we will work alongside the Palestinian people to restore and rebuild.
We call on all governments and donors to direct funds reflecting the extent of the destruction, to help the reconstruction of Gaza and support its people to build a future of hope.
Today, as the smoke begins to settle, the air is heavy with cautious relief and extreme grief. This is not the end—it is the beginning. The time has come to rise, to rebuild, and to save what remains of Gaza. The tears of the grieving oblige us to act, now more than ever. This ceasefire brings much-needed relief to the people of Gaza, who have endured unimaginable hardship and destruction during this war.
