From ceasefire to creation: building a new stage of human civilization in the Middle East.

Amid the unbearable loss, a new responsibility is emerging — and with it, a new window of opportunity for humanity.

As Palestinians walk back through their devastated streets and shattered homes, Israeli hostages are being joyfully welcomed home by their families. Now is the time for humanists, progressives, and all people of goodwill to go beyond calls for a ceasefire or humanitarian aid.

The task ahead is not to rebuild the old but to build anew — to begin a true renaissance in the Middle East.

Among Silo’s Principles of Valid Action, one states: “Do not oppose a great force. Retreat until it weakens, and then advance with resolution.”

This principle is worth recalling in moments like these.

First and most urgently, we must ensure that the U.S. President — along with Egypt and Qatar — stands firmly behind the plan and holds Prime Minister Netanyahu and his far-right allies accountable to the agreement.

Now is the time, advancing with resolution, to support those on the ground — Israelis and Palestinians alike — who oppose this abominable violence. It is time to mobilize moral, intellectual, and artistic forces across borders to strengthen democratic voices and help them imagine and build a new future.

This should be seen not only as a political project but as a personal and social transformation — where creativity overcomes anger and inspiration replaces reaction.

Let us now move forward with resolution and put all our energy into constructing what Silo envisioned as the Universal Human Nation. If this new civilization is ever to be born, the Middle East should naturally become its birthplace — a place where diversity, wisdom, and historical depth converge.

For those who wish to understand what real peacebuilding might look like, I recommend watching Eva Dalak’s interview with Sharon Dolev on peaceactivation.org. In this conversation, Dolev explores what practical peacebuilding means in one of the world’s most complex regions. She shows how collaborative projects — from shared water systems to regional treaties — can shift power dynamics, reduce suffering, and open the way for lasting peace.

They also discuss the critical importance of disarmament in creating true security for all. Sharon Dolev, founder and Executive Director of the Middle East Treaty Organization (METO) and the Israeli Disarmament Movement (IDM), works to promote a weapons-free Middle East and to engage both governments and civil society in imagining a future built on cooperation rather than fear.

🎥 Watch the full interview here:

“Peace will not come from treaties alone, but from those who choose to create — together — the first signs of a Universal Human Nation.”

Remember: “Love the reality you build.”