Gaza: Hope and doubt greet probable ceasefire deal
Following U.S. President Donald Trump's Tuesday announcement of a potential 60-day ceasefire agreement in Gaza, many residents expressed emotional exhaustion and guarded optimism. 'We want the war to stop, even for a moment,' said one displaced man sheltering in central Gaza. 'But we've seen these talks before. They promise peace, then return with more bombs.'
The cautious mood reflects the painful legacy of previous ceasefire efforts that collapsed under fire. Since Israel began its military offensive on October 7, 2023, widely described by Palestinians as a war of extermination, two truces have been brokered between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
The first, in November 2023, lasted just seven days. The second truce, from January 19 to March 1, 2025, held for 42 days before Israel resumed its war with even greater ferocity.
In both cases, Palestinians accuse Israel of violating the agreements. The abrupt resumption of airstrikes and ground assaults after each truce has left deep scars and a collective reluctance to believe new promises.
Trump's latest announcement, delivered via social media, claimed that Israel had agreed to the 'necessary conditions for completing' a 60-day ceasefire, though he did not elaborate on what those conditions were. He noted that his representatives had a 'long and constructive meeting' with Israeli officials on Tuesday and that Qatar and Egypt, key mediators in previous rounds, would present the final version of the deal.
'I hope Hamas will accept this agreement,' Trump wrote, warning that 'the situation will not improve but will get worse' if a deal is not reached.
But neither Israel nor Hamas has publicly confirmed or commented on the agreement, and this silence has only added to Palestinian doubts. 'Until there is real de-escalation on the ground, this is just more noise,' said a Palestinian journalist in Gaza City.
Still, any mention of a truce offers a flicker of hope for civilians enduring the relentless siege and humanitarian collapse. The need for a durable ceasefire, not just another temporary pause, is a shared demand across Gaza. 'People want more than words,' said a teacher in Rafah. 'We want safety, food, and the return of the living. And that won't happen unless the bombs stop, for good.'
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