DEYAL AL BARA, Gaza Strip (AP) – Palestinians in Gaza were following their latest efforts to stop the war and anticipate hostages there, liberating them with cautious optimism and skepticism when Israeli and Hamas officials met on Monday. Indirect lecture In Egypt.
Ahmed Hashem, father of four at the Jabariya refugee camp in Gaza city, said: He said he was following the news on his phone.
Talks on a US-drafted peace plan to end the war in Gaza began on the eve of the second anniversary of the Israel-Hamas War. Hamas said negotiations will focus on the first phase of a ceasefire, including the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of hostages held by Gaza militants in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention.
The Israeli attack in Gaza, launched on October 7, 2023 in response to an attack on Israel, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. The war also caused massive destruction, evacuation and devastation of Gaza, leading to tired families It moves repeatedly And produce images of children It was hollowed out by hunger.
Hope and optimism
Essam Halala, a 55-year-old Palestinian from northern Gaza, said he hopes the negotiations will be a contract in Gaza to “end human suffering.”
“This is a priority,” he said from Mwasi, a region crowded with tents protecting Palestinians who are forced to flee their homes. “The situation in Gaza has become deplorable.”
Ayman al-Masri, a Palestinian in northern Gaza, looked optimistic considering Hamas’ agreement to free all hostages. Nobel Prize. “
“The atmosphere and circumstances helped me to get to this point,” he said on Mwasi’s mobile phone. “If God had it, it would soon be agreed.”
This latest push for peace comes after Hamas accepts it Some elements of the US Peace Plana move that Trump welcomed. Israel says it supports the new US efforts.
Trump believes Hamas is ready for “lasting peace,” I told Israel to stop bombing Territory, but if Hamas doesn’t move right away, he warned that “all bets will be off.” Despite Trump’s orders, Israeli forces have continued to strike Gaza with airstrikes, killing at least 19 people in the last 24 hours, the territorial health ministry said.
Prayer, skepticism, past disappointment
Hussein Abu Arabia, who was expelled from Jabarya, said he prayed for his efforts to succeed.
“People are really tired after two years of evacuation. We are very tired,” he said. “Today, we appeal to God to end the suffering of the Palestinians after this great destruction.
Some were skeptical and said that their previous hopes had been shattered.
“We were in this war two years ago and have not seen any progress or anything that hopes us,” said Nabila Schner, who evacuated Gaza City.
A lot of uncertainty remained around the plan, including the future of Gaza.
Mohamed Abu Taha, Palestinian father of Rafa, said from Mwasi:
Hamas’ statement said on Friday. Willing to release hostages and hand over power to other Palestinianshowever, other aspects of the plan require further consultation among the Palestinians. The statement does not mention Israel’s important demand, Hamas disarming. The statement also reiterated years of openness to handing over power to the politically independent Palestinian body.
Hamas-led militants lured 251 people and killed around 1,200 civilians in the attack on October 7, 2023. Most hostages have been released in ceasefires or other transactions.
Gaza’s health ministry said the Palestine death toll in the war exceeded 67,000. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but says that more than half of the deaths were women and children. The ministry is part of Hamas-run government, and the United Nations and many independent experts consider the figures to be the most reliable estimates of wartime casualties.
Omar Nashar, a resident of Khan Younis, expressed cautious optimism, saying that incredible regional and international pressures will result in positive outcomes. Still, he said he was worried that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could derail consultations for domestic reasons.
“We hope that international and Arab pressures on occupation continue so that these negotiations can completely end the war, rebuild it, and allow all people to return to their homes,” he said.
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Magdy and Fam reported from Cairo.
