Palestinians flee an area of Gaza City bombed by Israel on March 18, 2024. Photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A plan by US President Donald Trump to end the war in Gaza has drawn mixed reactions from Palestinians in the enclave, who, despite differing views, share a common plea for an immediate end to the nearly two-year-long conflict.
Trump on Monday unveiled a “comprehensive plan” aimed at ending the near two-year-long war in Gaza, which includes the release of all Israeli hostages within 72 hours, and the demilitarization of the Palestinian enclave, alongside the exclusion of the Palestinian movement Hamas from any future political role in Gaza.
In a joint presser with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House - attended by Rudaw - Trump thanked the Israeli premier for “agreeing to the plan” to end the war in Gaza and achieve “peace in the Middle East.”
Trump detailed that the proposal entails the “immediate disarmament of Hamas," and the destruction of all of its "military infrastructure." It further requires the immediate release of all Israeli hostages - alive or deceased - within 72 hours of both parties accepting the deal.
"If Hamas rejects this agreement, [Israeli PM] Netanyahu will have our full support to do what needs to be done," Trump warned.
Netanyahu expressed support for Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war, highlighting its framework for a new administration in Gaza that excludes both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.
Despite the announcement, many Palestinians in Gaza have expressed skepticism and frustration over the proposal, doubting its potential to end the ongoing conflict.
An internally displaced person (IDP) from Gaza, Rami Abou Masoud, told Rudaw the plan “isn’t acceptable - not for Hamas or anyone else,” describing it as “a plan for surrender."
“Will Hamas surrender? That’s nonsense. And if Hamas does surrender, will the Islamic Jihad surrender? Also nonsense. Trump doesn’t want to resolve anything. His proposal doesn’t end the war,” Abou Masoud added.
Another IDP from Rafah, Sulaiman Hammad, echoed the sentiment, saying Trump's words “carry no weight.”
“He doesn’t stand by his promises. On April 19th, he made all kinds of guarantees - said everything would be fine. Then he turned around and said, 'Israel has the right to defend itself.'"
However, the response of Mohammad al-Aqqad, an IDP from Khan Younis, was less dismissive as he told Rudaw he supports any proposal that could end the war in the Palestinian enclave.
"I’m just a citizen - I want to live, to live in peace. I don’t care who brings peace - whether it’s Trump, Bush, whoever. I’m exhausted,” he said.
Aqqad noted that people in Gaza “can’t sleep, can’t find food, can’t find water.”
“We want to live. We want the war to end," he pleaded.
The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise incursion into southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking approximately 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Of those, 47 hostages remain in Gaza, including 25 who the Israeli military believes are dead.
Israel responded with a widescale military campaign in Gaza, which the health ministry in Gaza says has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians to date.
While Trump’s plan was presented Monday, Palestinian factions have been given several days to issue a formal response.
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