According to BBC journalist Rushdi Abualouf, Hamas’s measured and serious response to Trump’s proposed plan came as a surprise to many in Gaza. The air in the region shifted from anticipation to confusion. Social media platforms and messaging apps lit up with a deluge of questions. The most echoed among them. “Has the war really ended? Is this a dream or reality?”
Hamas’s Strategic Silence, Acceptance or Calculated Move? Trump himself shared Hamas’s response on his personal account, a statement that, allegedly shaped with the help of mediators, neither outright rejected nor clearly accepted the plan, but rather strategically agreed with elements of it. This move effectively threw the ball back into Israel’s court.
The response has sparked both hope and skepticism. Some Palestinians fear that Hamas may have walked into a trap, that once the hostages are returned, Israel might resume its military offensives. Others, however, see this moment as a historic opportunity to bring an end to two years of relentless destruction.
Ibrahim Fares, a resident of Gaza, cautiously remarked: “Be patient. Don’t celebrate too soon. There will be many rounds of negotiations — and the devil is always in the details. God willing, this moves forward… but look at Lebanon: there are still displaced people, and airstrikes continue.”
Another Gaza resident, Mahmoud Daher, shared his thoughts on Facebook: “Hamas’s reaction was extraordinary because it was direct. For once, there was no immediate but . There was agreement on the release of hostages, the end of war, and the transfer of authority to the Palestinian Authority. Hamas even praised Trump.”
Still, not everyone is convinced. Khalil Abu Shammala, a long-time critic of Hamas, believes the move was less about peace and more about self-preservation: “Call it wisdom or a people-first approach if you like, but the reality is, Hamas wants to stay in power. I doubt they even wrote that statement themselves. It was too cleverly worded.”
At present, a heavy cloud of uncertainty looms over Gaza. Hope flickers, but doubt persists. Palestinians are watching closely, asking: “Can words on paper really bring an end to years of bloodshed?”
Among the eight nations that applauded Trump’s plan was Pakistan. Trump showered praise on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, even boasting of their support. Pakistani officials may have earned medals of bravery, but the public remains skeptical.
But in the end, no amount of foreign applause matters more than the will of Gaza’s own people.
It is the people of Gaza who have buried their children, who have lost their homes, who live the consequences, only they hold the right to decide their fate. The rest of the world can only offer moral support.
As the world watches Gaza, holding
its breath in fragile anticipation, one truth remains clear:
Peace is not merely the absence of war — it is the presence of justice,
dignity, and self-determination.
Until then, the question lingers: “Is Gaza’s nightmare truly ending — or is this just another mirage in the desert?”
