Thousands join Tel Aviv peace summit as activists push for post-war political reset
Israeli and Palestinian campaigners gather in Tel Aviv as ceasefire fuels renewed calls for lasting peace
Thousands of Israeli and Palestinian activists attended the People’s Peace Summit 2026 in Tel Aviv, where organisers voiced hope that ‘the war that broke out on 7 October is the last one’.
The timing of the event comes after months of escalation with Iran and more than half a year of ceasefire in Gaza, which has led to many people in Israel asking whether the time is now for a real shift in regional political policy to create long-lasting and meaningful peace between Israel and its neighbours.
Gal, a student at Tel Aviv University, said, “This convention was a keystone in my journey to becoming an activist and to shaping my worldview, and I’m hoping to have the same impact on others today.”
The conference was hosted by the “It’s Time” Coalition, a network of more than 80 Jewish and Arab peacebuilding organisations, including the New Israel Fund (NIF), which supports civil society groups to promote democracy, equality, and human rights in Israel.
Shira Ben Sasson, Executive Director of the New Israel Fund, wants the event to showcase a perspective of Israeli political attitude that is often under-reported in the world’s media. ‘Endless conflict is not a strategy – it is a failure of leadership. Jews around the world should know that there are millions of Israelis in the democratic camp who are fighting for a different future: for democracy, equality, security, and a political solution that will allow both Israelis and Palestinians to live with dignity and hope.”
The full-day conference included panel discussions and cultural programming such as ‘Between Gaza and Tehran’, which explored alternatives to Israel’s current security doctrine, which the panel organisers viewed as being based on perpetual war. Other talks focused on areas such as rolling back annexation in the West Bank by peace activist Hagit Ofran and defeating Hamas through hope by Dr Omer Zanany.
Amalia Saar, feminist peace activist from the University of Haifa, said, ‘One of the main problems in this era is a sense of isolation and demonisation, but here I see so many projects, organisations and activists, which is incredibly hopeful.’ Our main goal is to insist to Israelis and Palestinians that we’re not doomed to go on the path of death.”
‘Starting Point’ explored the role civil society should play alongside government on the road to peace. The panel was moderated by Palestinian peace activist Nivine Sandouka, Regional Director of the Alliance for Middle East Peace, who spoke about the importance of remaining moderate in the current climate. “If the moderates do not organise, extremists will,” she said as she opened the panel. Eran Etzion, former Deputy Head of Israel’s National Security Council, and Christophe Bigot, former Ambassador of France to Israel, spoke of how strong, urgent diplomacy can deliver regional security for both Israelis and Palestinians and how civil society is the glue that holds diplomacy together.
Yael, representing Achoti, a fair trade store for women within various communities in Israel, including Palestinian and Ethiopian women, said, “Today we hope to be part of this very optimistic summit, to meet people and to create cooperation. It’s been a very hard couple of years both in and out of Israel; it’s been crushing, but I think one of the points of this summit today is to regain the feeling of connection, strength and potential.”
The summit ended with a large evening event combining political testimony and personal stories by Israeli and Palestinian speakers directly affected by the conflict with live performances by Israeli singers Dana International and Achinoam Nini; the Jerusalem Youth Choir; and Rana Choir, an Arab-Jewish women’s choir.
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