Scepticism and hope: Gaza reacts to Trump's Board of Peace'

"Peace, in both the physical and mental sense, feels far away in Gaza. A ceasefire may have officially been in place since October 10, but Israel continues to conduct occasional attacks, with more than 442 Palestinians killed in the three months since. list of 3 itemsend of list It is not just the attacks daily life in Gaza is also shaped by siege and displacement, and a sense that living conditions will not improve any time soon."

"This phase is about moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction, said US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in a social media post. The new phase includes a new Palestinian technocratic administration, overseen by an international Board of Peace, chaired by US President Donald Trump. But while everything may sound workable on paper, the reaction from Palestinians in Gaza one that mixes cautious hope and deep scepticism is shaped by their lived experience since the beginning of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023."

"A lot of political decisions are distant from the reality faced in Gaza our daily life that is filled with blockades, fear, loss, tents, and a terrible humanitarian situation, said Arwa Ashour, a freelance journalist and writer based in Gaza City. Even when decisions are made to ease the suffering, they are obstructed by the Israeli occupation authorities. People want everything back like it was before the war: schools, hospitals, travel, Ashour said."

Peace in Gaza remains distant despite an official ceasefire since October 10, as Israel continues occasional attacks that have killed more than 442 Palestinians in three months. Daily life is shaped by siege, displacement, and persistent fear, with living conditions unlikely to improve soon. The United States announced a second phase moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction, including a Palestinian technocratic administration overseen by an international Board of Peace chaired by US President Donald Trump. Gazans express cautious hope mixed with deep skepticism, citing blocked relief, ruined services, and a desire for change after prolonged conflict and Hamas governance.

Read at www.aljazeera.com