Key facts
- Israeli airstrikes killed at least four Palestinians in Gaza on Sunday.
- U.S. President Donald Trump announced a breakthrough in efforts to implement a Gaza ceasefire agreement.
- Hamas has reportedly agreed to disarm under a U.S.-backed initiative.
- Hamas will only hand over weapons after Israel halts military operations and withdraws forces.
- Israel has indicated it will not withdraw unless Hamas undergoes genuine disarmament.
Palestinians in Gaza are cautiously hopeful following President Donald Trump's announcement that Hamas has agreed to disarm, seeing it as a potential end to Israeli attacks and a chance for rebuilding. However, this hope is tempered by the reality of continued Israeli strikes and a deep-seated skepticism towards both Hamas and Israel adhering to any peace plan.
Many residents are focused on immediate needs like food and medicine, with poor conditions in displacement camps leading to disease outbreaks. The current situation contrasts sharply with a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan from last year, which aimed for Israeli troop withdrawal and decommissioning of Hamas weapons but stalled due to mutual violations.
The newly announced road map specifies the types of weapons Hamas and its allies must surrender to a technocratic government, with Israel excluded from the decommissioning process and required to halt military operations. Despite these details, Gazans have experienced repeated broken promises and doubt the sincerity of either party.
Official Israeli sources, speaking anonymously, have indicated that the road map does not align with the country's interests, and Israel has stated it will not withdraw from certain areas, reinforcing a 'security zone' along the 'Yellow Line' in Gaza. This has led to fears among Palestinians that Israel's ultimate goal is not just disarmament but the expulsion of the Palestinian population from the territory.
Even as homes lie in ruins, displaced Palestinians express a strong desire to return and rebuild, clinging to the hope that any pressure for Israeli withdrawal, however small, could eventually lead to their return.