THE UPPER HAND OF EFFORT

R ecently, US President Donald Trump unveiled a detailed plan for Gaza. It called for an immediate ceasefire, hostage exchanges, and a staged Israeli withdrawal, while placing Gaza under temporary international supervision with promises of large-scale humanitarian aid and economic development. Though ambitious, such frameworks often struggle because they overlook deeper moral and psychological roots. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, in his Ten-Point peace formula offered a realistic, transformative path forward. At the heart of this proposal is the principle of Hudaybiyyah, drawn from Prophet Muhammad’s treaty with the Makkans in seventh century. The lesson is clear: pursue peace even when it requires compromise, because it opens possibilities later. Rather than insisting that every demand be met first, the priority must be to stop bloodshed and build conditions where opportunity can flourish. The Quran commands believers to adopt peaceful reconciliation (4: 128). Violence has dominated the region for over six decades, yet it has brought neither justice nor progress. True change will come only through nonviolent engagement. The Quran also teaches that hostility can turn into friendship when evil is repelled with good (41: 34). This means choosing patience, dialogue, and generosity instead of revenge. The formula emphasises that peace must precede justice. Justice cannot thrive in an atmosphere of rage and retaliation. Peace, even if incomplete, provides the stability needed for progress through political, legal, and diplomatic means. Without peace, the call for justice remains trapped in cycles of conflict. Another key principle is to remain result-oriented rather than emotional. The Prophet described a true believer as one who abandons actions that bring no benefit. Decades of violent resistance have yielded little. It is now essential to focus on practical methods that deliver real improvement rather than symbolic gestures of defiance. A vital component is the rejection of violence against innocents, including suicide bombings. The Quran declares that killing a single innocent person is like killing all of humanity (5: 32). Such acts, far BLUEPRINT FOR LASTING PEACE IN PALESTINE