Hope and Fear in Gaza as Deadline for Peace Plan Looms

A tense mixture of hope and fear is gripping Gaza as a 3-4 day deadline looms for a US-proposed peace plan. For a population that has endured over two years of brutal war, the prospect of a ceasefire and massive aid brings a desperate hope, but the threat of what comes next should Hamas refuse inspires deep fear.
President Donald Trump’s 20-point proposal offers a potential end to the nightmare. The promise of an immediate halt to the fighting, the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers, and the arrival of food and medicine is a powerful incentive for a people who have lost over 66,000 lives and seen their homes turned to rubble.
However, this hope is fragile. The deal is contingent on the complete surrender of Hamas, and the group has not yet given its response. Residents know that a rejection of the plan could trigger the “very sad end” that President Trump warned of, potentially an even more ferocious Israeli assault.
The international community, including Arab nations, has thrown its weight behind the deal, adding to the feeling that this may be the final chance to avoid further catastrophe. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has already agreed, putting the ball firmly in Hamas’s court.
As Gazans await the decision, they are caught between the dream of a peaceful future with open aid corridors and the nightmare of an even deadlier chapter in a seemingly endless conflict. The next few days will determine which of these realities they will face.