Lead
Palestinians in Gaza have voiced a mixture of hope and deep skepticism following the announcement that Hamas has agreed to disarm in exchange for a phased Israeli withdrawal from the enclave. The deal, heralded by US President Donald Trump, has been met with cautious optimism from some, while others question whether it will actually change the situation on the ground.
Coverage comparison
Reporting from ABC Australia, BBC — World, and Dawn each capture the complex reactions of Gazans to the agreement. ABC Australia focuses on the skepticism expressed by Palestinians in Gaza, concerned that the declaration to lay down weapons will not alter their daily reality. BBC — World presents the development as a rare chink of light in a bleak situation, emphasizing the complexities and challenges of implementation. Dawn highlights the human stories, quoting Gazans who express both hope and doubt about the deal.
Key claims
Hamas has agreed to give up its weapons in exchange for a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, a plan announced by President Trump. The agreement is conditional, with Hamas insisting that Israel uphold its side of the deal by withdrawing from large areas and ending its daily strikes.
Israeli forces currently occupy 70% of Gaza, and since the ceasefire was announced in October 2025, over 1,200 people have been killed in Israeli strikes, according to Palestinian health authorities. Over the course of the war, more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry, with UNICEF stating that over 20,000 children have been killed since 7 October 2023.
The destruction in Gaza extends beyond military operations, with BBC — World reporting an organized project to demolish communities and infrastructure, involving civilian contractors from Israel. Many Palestinians believe that Israel intends to force them out by making life unbearable, a view shared by leaders and officials in Jordan and Egypt, who see efforts to create conditions for ethnic cleansing.
Diplomatic efforts involving Egypt and Turkey have played a role in brokering the deal, though Israel has yet to comment officially.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued daily air and artillery strikes in Gaza, claiming it is targeting militants.
Perspectives
Gazans
Residents of Gaza have shared their hopes and fears. Mohammed Hamdouna, a displaced teacher, said, "Finally, the world's longest nightmare will end," but added, "I'm afraid to dream or believe it until the crossings are opened and aid and temporary shelters begin to enter Gaza." Ahmed Aal, a taxi driver, expressed distrust in Israel, saying, "Israel doesn't honour agreements — they'll invent something to go back to fighting. Israel and Hamas negotiate from the comfort of hotels. Time doesn't matter to them, but for us time is everything." Umm Naeem Abu Sultan felt joy at the announcement, saying, "I felt so happy, as if the door to life was opening for us again." Rabih Al-Balawi, who has been displaced 23 times, said, "From what I've seen, believing they will honour any agreement would be naive. We know Israel's history of expansion, and they never withdraw from occupied areas." Sanaa Shreir hoped it would improve the humanitarian situation, noting, "Disarmament is not an easy issue for us, but given what our people are going through, it may be acceptable."
Israeli officials
Israel has not yet commented on the deal. There is a strong sentiment among the Israeli Jewish majority that Hamas will remain a threat until it is completely disarmed, according to BBC — World's analysis.