US President Trump's recent threats against Gaza residents have been met with skepticism and resignation, as many feel they have nothing left to lose after 16 months of war. With widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis, locals view these threats as empty rhetoric rather than a genuine concern for peace. Many, like Yasser al-Sharafa, have seen their livelihoods obliterated and live in despair. There is a pervasive belief among Gazans that any handover of captives would not alter their dire situation, reflecting deep mistrust in international efforts to end the conflict.
Yasser al-Sharafa, 59, said he ignores these threats because, like many in Gaza, he has nothing left to lose. Now, he runs a makeshift stand selling candy and snacks to children. Before, he said: I used to be a well-known clothing merchant. I had a large shop, a six-storey building, a car, and stock warehouses in Tel al-Hawa in Gaza City. All those years of hard work vanished, destroyed in the war. Everywhere you look is destruction, ruin, and misery.
Even if we hand over the captives, nothing will change. The war might return at any moment under a new pretext they come up with. We've lost trust in the entire world.
Jamila Mahmoud, 62, considers Trump's threats as psychological warfare, reflecting deep skepticism among Palestinians regarding international and US involvement in the conflict.
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