Gaza Residents Between Hope and Concern Over Trump’s Plan to End the War

After nearly two years of war and displacement, the residents of the Gaza Strip are closely following the proposal put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump, seeing it as a possible glimmer of hope to end the ongoing suffering.

The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for the freedom of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, alongside other arrangements including the formation of a transitional government under international supervision, and the disarmament of Hamas—an issue the movement considers one of the most sensitive points.

According to interviews conducted by The New York Times, some residents view the opportunity as possibly the last chance to break free from the cycle of war. Mahmoud Balbool, a construction worker who lost his home in the bombings, said, “We have already seen hell… Hamas needs to think more about the people.”

On the other hand, others express hesitation about the feasibility of the proposal, considering that the political terms may hinder its implementation. Abdel Halim Awad, a bakery owner in Deir al-Balah, explained, “We want the war to end at any cost, but we don’t know if Hamas will accept.”

The official stance of the movement remains under consideration, while Gaza’s streets swing between hope for an end to the war and fear that the plan may falter due to political disagreements.