Will this Gaza ceasefire hold? Islamic doctrine of hudna may be at play
As I reflect on this week's headlines, a familiar mix of cautious hope and unshakeable conviction, rooted in God's unchanging Word, stirs within me. For those of us who have traded an ideology of fear for the liberating truth of Christ, such moments resonate deeply.
Having spent two decades immersed in national security, chasing shadows of radicalism as a devout Muslim, I now speak from a place of redemption. I've exchanged Sharia's legalism for grace's freedom, learning that true peace isn't found in diplomatic agreements but anchored in the sovereignty of a God who orchestrates history.
The news from the Middle East in October 2025 is momentous. After two grueling years of war and immense loss, Israel and Hamas have signed a “landmark peace deal,” brokered by President Donald Trump, which was outlined during his address to the Knesset. The initial phase includes the release of the remaining 20 Israeli hostages from Gaza, over 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and the reopening of five border crossings for humanitarian aid. Trucks are already lining up, and Israeli forces are withdrawing from northern Gaza, allowing displaced Gazans to return to their homes.
Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey have endorsed the ceasefire, seeing it as a step toward regional transformation. Trump, quoting Jesus, declared, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” to cautious applause in Jerusalem. Reactions on social media are divisive, with some calling it a miracle and others a naive concession to terrorists. Hillary Clinton even offered rare praise for the negotiations.
From a human perspective, there's much to celebrate: hostages returning home, families reunited, and the potential for an end to a bloody chapter in Israeli-Palestinian history. Whispers of economic reconstruction and normalized relations are spreading across the Arab world. Having once viewed the world through the lens of jihadist threats, I understand the exhaustion of endless conflict. I've worked in 37 countries in search of an elusive peace.
However, this isn't peace born of repentance; it's a hudna, a temporary truce rooted in Islamic doctrine. Islamic leaders are permitted to make peace with non-Muslims when weakened, to regroup and strike later. This aligns perilously with Ezekiel 38, which foretells an invasion during a deceptive period of security, not amidst war.
Let's delve into Ezekiel 38, where God reveals the end-times scenario. “Son of man, prophesy against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal” (v. 2). This Gog — representing a malevolent coalition including Persia (Iran), Cush (Sudan/Ethiopia), Put (Libya), Gomer, and Togarmah (Turkey) — attacks Israel when it “dwells safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates” (v. 11). Imagine a regathered Israel, recovering from war, lulled by accords and alliances, spiritually unwalled. “In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel,” God declares (v. 8). These mountains of Israel, reborn since 1948, now embrace pacts that could erode their defenses.
This Gaza deal is a prime example. The Abraham Accords have led to numerous normalizations, and this ceasefire promises to bring permanence. Trump envisions a glittering rebuild of Gaza under Arab auspices. However, closer examination uncovers substantial compromises.
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