Rebuilding Gaza: The Enduring Security of the Jewish community depends on the Security of the Palestinians.

By Mike Ghouse

Rebuilding Gaza requires Palestinian sovereignty, accountable leadership, transparent reconstruction, and a commitment to the safety of both Palestinians and Israelis.

No parent should fear that their child’s home tonight will become a place of searching tomorrow.

Before we rebuild Gaza, we must consider the promise we make to its children. Will they have safe bedrooms, schools to complete their education, and neighborhoods where loved ones remain?

Our reconstruction plan must address these crucial questions. Each home we rebuild carries a responsibility to the family that will live there. Each school must restore both education and safety for its students.

As an American Muslim dedicated to building cohesive societies, I have spent years honoring Holocaust and genocide commemorations. We must acknowledge the humanity of those whose suffering is often overlooked and prevent victims from becoming perpetrators.

My concern for Palestinian children comes from the same moral compass that drives me to combat antisemitism and remember the Holocaust. Jewish and Palestinian children both deserve to grow up safely, free from fear of one another.

Your peace and security are linked to those of your neighbors. Lasting peace is impossible while others live in turmoil.

Rebuilding Gaza must begin with that understanding.

1. Make Jewish and Palestinian security a shared commitment

Israel was established as a sanctuary for a people with a long history of persecution, including the horrors of the Holocaust. The right of Jews to live free from fear is a principle we must embrace and protect.

This history should strengthen our commitment to human dignity and inspire us to consider what creates true safety for all. I urge Israelis to support policies and leaders that ensure lasting security for their children, allowing them to travel without fear.

Palestinian children, too, deserve to feel secure, with strong institutions and a political future in which they can participate.

Israeli security is linked to Palestinian security; both communities need a future where families can live without the fear of violence. We must work to make this shared vision a reality.

Military might can be deceptive, as history has shown. If we are just, life would be good for all.

2. Renounce Greater Israel and protect Palestinian existence

The pursuit of a Greater Israel at the expense of Palestinian lives, land, and sovereignty must end. Displacing others from their homeland carries severe moral consequences, leading to further suffering and the decay of society.

Israelis who desire peace must confront the reality of territorial expansion. How can Palestinians trust in coexistence when their future is steadily undermined? Short-term gains should not compromise long-term security.

Reconstruction efforts must ensure families can stay and thrive in their communities. People require more than permission to occupy repaired homes; they need assurance that their rights will be respected.

We must create a shared space where both peoples can flourish and find belonging. This is essential for a peaceful and sustainable future.

3. Defend the meaning of antisemitism

Antisemitism is a real issue that requires our immediate attention.

No Jew should face threats or be blamed for the actions of the Israeli government. Jewish communities deserve our solidarity against hatred.

At the same time, we must retain the right to criticize Israeli leaders and policies. Opposing violence, rejecting territorial expansion, or advocating for Palestinian rights does not equal hatred of Jews.

Labeling all criticism as antisemitism weakens our ability to confront genuine antisemitism and undermines trust among allies.

Let’s not dilute a vital cause to protect political interests.

We can defend Jewish people from hatred while holding Israeli leadership accountable. This dual responsibility is essential to our moral duty.

4. Stop crutching on Islamophobia as a path to Jewish safety

Israel must reject any funding or initiatives that promote Islamophobia for political gain, including from evangelical Christians. Alliances based on hostility toward Muslims cannot foster true peace; they create suspicion and hinder our ability to recognize the humanity of Palestinian families.

Jewish people, who understand the impact of antisemitism, must also stand against Islamophobia. This is essential to breaking the cycle of distrust that impedes peace.

I urge influential figures like David Ellison and Miriam Adelson to invest in a future that ensures safety for Jews while protecting their neighbors’ dignity. Support education, promote meaningful dialogue, and reject efforts to demonize Islam or frame Muslims as enemies.

Muslim leaders and donors also need to confront antisemitism within their communities. Demeaning your neighbor will not protect your children; mutual respect is the foundation for lasting coexistence.

Adolf Hitler was responsible for the deaths of six million Jews, and another man is now responsible for the deaths of nearly 75,000 Palestinians. While one perpetrator is gone, I hope the current one will face justice similar to that of the Nuremberg trials, where accountability for atrocities was upheld.

5. Renounce violence

Palestinians deserve leadership that protects their lives and secures a hopeful future. Organizations like Hamas, which target civilians, should not dictate the fate of future generations. If Israel continues to exacerbate Palestinian suffering, Hamas may reemerge as a response to defend the oppressed. We must seek paths to peaceful coexistence, which serves everyone’s best interests.

I urge Palestinian leaders, educators, and families to stand against the rise of such organizations. Children need opportunities to become productive members of society—teachers, doctors, engineers, and artists. Israel can support this vision rather than pursue an expansionist agenda that undermines its security.

As a Muslim, I find strength in the example of the Prophet Muhammad, who prayed for those who harmed him. This teaches us to rise above the urge to inflict pain on others due to our own suffering.

We must recognize the resilience of both Palestinians and Jews who have faced unimaginable losses. Their refusal to become enemies, as Walter Ruby and Sabeeha Rehman highlight, deserves great respect.

Their patience should never excuse the world from its responsibility to protect them. Sabr (patience) cannot absolve governments of their duty to prevent violence and uphold human rights.

We must work towards a future where restraint thrives, and children have reasons to hope.

6. Let the Evangelical commitment to Jesus become a commitment to peace

Jesus brought a message of peace, and I believe his return will restore harmony and end the suffering humans have inflicted on one another.

It’s hard to reconcile this belief with the views of some Evangelicals and Jews who celebrate Palestinian suffering as a precursor to Jesus’ return. This depiction of Jesus as condoning violence is misguided. He called for his followers to be peacemakers—are they living up to that calling? They must recommit to true discipleship.

I urge those who use prophetic language to support war to consider the real human consequences. A Palestinian Christian mother should never question why Jesus’ name is invoked to justify her family’s pain, and a Muslim mother deserves the same compassion.

The devastation faced by Palestinians is genocidal, and I condemn Netanyahu’s leadership and the American policies that have fueled this suffering. Religious language should never excuse the abandonment of human dignity.

Christians can wield great moral influence by advocating for peace, protecting civilians, and rejecting any sanctification of violence. Let our faiths inspire us to protect one another with compassion.

7. Americans must replace warmongers with responsible leadership

My fellow Americans have a crucial duty to examine our political leaders’ actions in our name.

We must remove extremist and warmongering policymakers through democratic means and elect leaders who prioritize diplomacy, fairness, and human life. Serving Americans means ensuring our communities are safe while recognizing that our decisions abroad affect families we may never know.

We deserve leaders who take this responsibility seriously. They should be able to explain how their policies promote lasting peace, protect civilians, and serve the public good.

We must hold accountable those who support harmful policies, including those who back Netanyahu’s aggressive actions.

Let’s harness our influence to create a peaceful future for everyone. Let’s rid of warmongers and elect peace makers.

8. Put Palestinians at the center of Gaza reconstruction

Palestinians must lead the reconstruction of Gaza, utilizing their expertise to strengthen local businesses and maintain authority over their communities. The profits and income should remain in Gaza.

Contracts should be awarded to qualified Palestinian firms through a transparent bidding process. If outside expertise is needed, it must support Palestinian leadership and focus on building local capacity.

Criteria for contract awards should be published, and recipients disclosed. Budget and progress reports should be available for public scrutiny, with independent oversight to allow residents to report corruption or inadequate work.

No contracts should be preferentially given to Jared Kushner, his associates, or others based on political connections.

Those who lost their homes must have a say in what replaces them. Families deserve clarity on water restoration, safety, and neighborhood functionality.

Reconstruction should restore livelihoods alongside infrastructure, with Palestinian workers and professionals shaping a sustainable recovery for their communities.

9. Recognize Palestine as a sovereign state

Rebuilding Gaza requires a robust political foundation that respects Palestinian self-determination. The recognition of Palestine by many countries, especially at the September 2025 United Nations gathering, highlights growing international support for statehood.

As Americans, we must advocate for this recognition and support actions that empower Palestinian sovereignty. Palestinians deserve accountable institutions, a thriving economy, and the ability to shape their own future. True sovereignty involves responsible governance, the protection of rights, and a commitment to peaceful relations with Israel.

This recognition should lead to ongoing diplomatic efforts, creating a future where both Palestinians and Israelis can live with dignity and security. Let’s work together to bring this vision to life. It will not happen without recognition of the State of Palestine.

10. Give the children a future they can trust

When a family moves into a rebuilt home, they should feel confident that the world is committed to safeguarding their future. A child should be able to choose where to place their bed, imagine friends visiting, and hear the lively sounds of a neighborhood. A parent should be able to plan for a future beyond mere survival.

This is the essence of the proposals here. It requires Israelis to reject expansion and pursue true peace while urging Palestinians to build accountable institutions that prevent attacks on civilians. It calls on religious communities and donors to prioritize human dignity and reminds Americans to ensure our influence promotes peace.

We must also advocate for transparent reconstruction and uphold Palestinian sovereignty.

For two decades, my work commemorating the Holocaust has reinforced my belief that remembrance demands action. We owe it to the deceased to protect the living.

I want Jewish parents to know that others care about their children’s safety, just as I want Palestinian parents to feel the same support.

Let us rebuild Gaza with the seriousness it deserves and protect the families who will live there. Children deserve the opportunity to grow up, and our decisions must make that possible.

About the author

Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive societies and advancing mutual respect among people of different faiths, races, ethnicities and backgrounds. His initiatives include two decades of Holocaust and genocide commemorations among others. He believes Israeli security and Palestinian security are inseparable.