I’ve spent the past two years deeply involved in actions, campaigns and community organising for Gaza. But as the so-called ceasefire begins and talk of ‘peace plans’ fills the headlines, I find myself asking a harder question: what now?

As an Arab, I grew up learning two hard truths about the Middle East: there is no real democracy, and there is no lasting peace. The so-called peace we are told to believe in is often nothing more than a temporary truce, a pause until the stronger side regroups, reorganises and plans for the next stage. The question now is: are we ready for this next stage?

Now, with this so-called ceasefire, I’ve realised that we, as activists, were not ready for this. We have spent the past two years reacting to events, responding to every new atrocity and every new emergency. We were so focused on the immediate work that we forgot to prepare for this moment. We didn’t ask ourselves: What are our long-term goals? Who should be involved? How can we reach them?

Strategic planning for the movement

Strategic planning is the answer. We need to move beyond urgency and start thinking about sustainability. Well-known organisations like Amnesty International, the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network and others could help lead this effort by setting a clear five-year plan, identifying the main goals our movement needs to achieve and the different ways we can reach them.

This is not about centralisation. It’s about drawing on the expertise of those who can see the bigger picture. These organisations can help set priorities and suggest key actions so activists on the ground can organise their work better and not waste effort or energy.

They could create a communications group that sends regular updates about new developments and actions that activists should know about. Activists could then choose which actions to join, depending on their time and capacity.

Such a plan should also recognise that activists have different levels of time, capacity and experience. Thousands of people care deeply but don’t know how to get involved: people with families, jobs, and other responsibilities who still want to contribute. Others can give a few hours here and there, while some dedicate countless hours every week, almost like it’s a second job.

Each of these groups needs tailored actions that make participation accessible and meaningful. Amnesty has already shown how this can work. During Refugee Week, it launched the ‘ 7 Days, 7 Actions’ campaign, a series of activities designed for different levels of involvement, from quick online actions to deeper community engagement. We can learn from that model.

We also need to understand both our strengths and weaknesses. Our strength is in our numbers, in the truth we stand for, and in the deep devotion of people who refuse to stay silent. But we also have weaknesses, we lack resources, co-ordination and long-term strategic planning. Recognising these realities is not discouraging, it’s how we learn to build smarter and stronger.

Expanding the movement: From solidarity to participation

The second thing we need to focus on in our plans and actions is who we are attracting. If we want to build real power, we must expand our movement. Too often, the same people attend every rally, forum, or meeting, committed activists who already know each other. While their dedication is vital, it’s not enough. We need to reach beyond our familiar circles and find ways to involve new people.

That means organising more inclusive, social, and community-based events that appeal to different age groups and levels of engagement. A great example of this was the mini-fête organised by the Canberra Action Group, which created a warm, family-friendly space. The event had two parts: an area for organisational stalls where groups introduced their work, and an outdoor section with food stalls and games for children. Even if some people came mainly for their kids, it was still a valuable step, because it brought new faces into the movement and created a welcoming entry point for future involvement.

We should also rethink how we measure success. The success of an event is not about how many people attend, but how many new people join, those who have never been involved before. It’s about how many start to move beyond passive solidarity and begin to take action, however small.

Reaching students and the next generation

Reaching students in schools is also a very important step. Of course, walking into a school and saying “I want to talk about Gaza” will not work, no school will allow that. But we can take another approach. We can go in to talk about racism, discrimination and human rights, the underlying issues that allow atrocities like those in Gaza to continue around the world.

By framing these discussions around values such as justice, equality and democracy, we can open important conversations without being shut out. We can help young people think critically about how racism dehumanises people, how propaganda shapes public opinion and how these patterns threaten democracy everywhere, including here in Australia.

This kind of civic education empowers students to connect global issues with their own responsibilities as citizens. It teaches them that standing against racism and injustice abroad is part of protecting democracy and equality at home.

These three priorities are important when we remember how well-organised the other side already is. During his recent address to the US Congress, Benjamin Netanyahu said, “… because when we stand together, something very simple happens. We win. They lose”. His words were not just rhetoric, they revealed a strategy built on unity, co-ordination and influence.

That is why we, as activists for justice, must also stand together with a clear purpose. We cannot just react to events, we need to plan ahead and act strategically. Our strength comes from working together, building strong connections and helping the next generation to know the truth and think critically.

And remember, we have only been building our movement for two years, while they’ve been organising for more than a hundred. That’s why planning, unity and patience are the key to our movement’s success.

The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.