The announcement of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war on Gaza immediately affected Palestinians living under intense Israeli bombardment. When the announcement came on September 29, some families in Gaza City delayed their evacuation after receiving multiple army warnings to move south. They clung to hope that Trump’s plan would end the war and spare them another round of displacement.
After Hamas responded positively on October 3 and said it was ready to “discuss the details,” some families even returned from the south. On the first day, families returned peacefully. On the second, as the Israeli military noticed more people heading north, it began targeting them on al-Rashid Street, the only route connecting Gaza’s northern and southern halves.
Many in Gaza have rejected Trump’s plan, calling it a ploy to deceive Hamas and the Palestinian resistance — first by securing the release of Israeli captives, then allowing Israel to abandon the deal and resume its bombing and demolition campaign. But despite the deep skepticism, most people in Gaza see the plan as the last chance to stop the genocide. Their desperation for the daily killing to stop has pushed many to support any agreement that might end it.
Optimism in Gaza is also evident, with many believing that there is a real chance the war might finally come to an end. They believe the whole world now agrees on stopping the war in Gaza, despite lingering doubts about Trump’s true intentions and Israel’s commitment to abiding by the withdrawal.
“We trust God. We don’t trust Trump,” said Muhammad Badr, 44, from Gaza City. “We don’t trust the U.S., and we don’t trust Israel. But we hope that this time, all these countries, led by Trump, will finally put an end to this devastating war.”
“We vote for any plan to stop the war,” he continued. “Anything that would return us to our homes, even if they’ve been destroyed by Israel and the U.S. All we need is stability, peace, and a stop to the bloodshed.”
“We have left behind a lot of false hopes, and we pray this time will not be like the previous time, which were only meant to deceive us and prolong the war,” Badr adds.
As negotiations continue in Egypt, people in Gaza are waiting for results—and for the announcement that this war has finally ended. Despite concerns about the plan’s terms and the widespread belief that it serves Israeli interests, the desire to end the war outweighs everything.
Some Gazans point out that the plan’s first stage involves releasing all Israeli captives from Gaza City — proof, they say, that it mainly benefits Israel.
Fadi Harb, 33, a resident of al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, expressed his cautious optimism about the agreement, calling it a positive step toward ending the war.
“We lost our homes, and our cities are destroyed,” Harb said. “But we still have hope. If this war ends soon, we can rebuild our homeland.”
“We felt happy when Hamas responded with acceptance,” he added. “We hope both parties — Hamas and the Israeli occupation — will have honest intentions to stop it.”
Harb believes that international pressure on Israel forced it to accept the plan, and that Israeli is “losing more than it’s gaining by fighting in Gaza.”
“Their worldwide reputation is being damaged, they’re losing legitimacy and shunned wherever they go,” he explained. “The war exposed Israel for what it is: a state of bloodthirsty criminals. International pressure pushed Israel to the negotiating table.”
Harb also said Hamas’s conditions for the plan were legitimate: halting Israeli fire so that it can locate the captives and hand them over to Israel. “They need the right atmosphere and environment to do this work. It’s normal,” he explained. “I am optimistic that once all the captives are handed over, this war will stop.”
When asked where this optimism comes from, he said he is confident international pressure will force Israel to commit to it. “And also because the U.S. President is leading this plan,” Harb added.
‘Maybe their peace means full surrender’
Optimism, however, is not shared by all Palestinians in the Strip. Some recall the long history of American involvement with Palestinians and Israelis, and they believe Israel and the U.S. are once again deceiving Hamas.
“They are all liars,” said Muhammad Tanja, a Gaza resident. “They Americans, the Israelis — they’re all liars. They give nothing to Palestinians. Only take.”
“They take our lands. They take our lives. And they do it through deception,” Tanja continued. “Every now and then, they devise a new plan or agreement. They keep us waiting for positive news while they keep killing us. They talk about peace and ending the war. But just now, they killed 20 people in their home, and no one can pull them out from under the rubble. What peace are they talking about?”
“Maybe their peace means full surrender or the complete killing of Palestinians,” Tanja added. “Maybe peace for them is a land without a people.”
Others view the plan as little more than a rescue operation for Netanyahu, carried out by Trump on his behalf.
“This plan is not Trump’s plan — it’s an Israeli plan,” said Jihad Wadi, 51, from Deir al-Balah. “It’s only to rescue Netanyahu. The plan will free the captives, destroy Hamas and its weapons, and drive them out of Gaza after two years of destruction and killing. The result is that all of Gaza has been destroyed.”
“We have nothing left after this war — no schools, no hospitals, no homes, no relatives, no friends. Israel destroyed everything,” Wadi continued. “Now they want to end the war, but they also want a victory image. Netanyahu wants that image for the next election. Trump rescued him with this plan.”
“Israel will stick to it, and I think Hamas will, too,” he added. “Israel wants to end the war, claim victory, and escape international pressure. Hamas wants to stop the killing of Palestinians in Gaza.”
Inside Israel, Wadi explained, this will be celebrated as an achievement. “They destroyed Gaza, they took back the captives, and they destroyed Hamas. So yes, they will celebrate this plan if it happens.”