Shock in Gaza: 'What Was the War For?'
Palestinians reacted sharply to reports that Hamas is willing to disarm and relinquish power, after repeatedly refusing to do so in the past, thereby prolonging the war and Gaza's suffering. Meanwhile, strikes on the Strip continue.
Reports that Hamas is willing to hand over its weapons and relinquish its governing powers in the Strip, described in some Arab countries as 'the end of the campaign,' were not met with cheers of joy in Gaza. On the Gazan street, amid the rubble of homes and tents, the reports opened wounds and unleashed anger that had been suppressed for months. A source in Gaza told ynet that in the past, when a deal approached, displaced people would celebrate, drum, and even fire into the air, but this time there are no such signs. 'Some people are optimistic, but those who are not are the majority,' he said. Gazan journalist Sami Mushtaha sharply attacked the talk of 'relief': 'I curse your fake relief... our blood will haunt the earth until it burns.' Influencer Mustafa al-Banna called the move a 'sensitive and dangerous maneuver' and asked: 'If in the end we hand over the hostages and then the weapons that were a sacred symbol, then what was the war for in the first place?' Dr. Izzo, a Gaza resident, mocked the framing of Hamas as 'sacrificing' its rule, noting more than 300,000 dead and wounded and 90% of the Strip's infrastructure destroyed. In contrast, Dr. Fayez Abu Shamala, a Hamas man, tried to defend the organization, claiming Hamas fought 'American imperialism and Zionism with what was available to it.' On social media, criticism of decision-making within the 'axis of resistance' is growing, with users accusing Yahya Sinwar and the military wing's leadership of entering the deadly adventure of October 7 without informing other axis members. Researcher Dr. Faisal Nasuli saw in the events the complete collapse of Hamas's concept. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that several Palestinians were wounded in an airstrike carried out by the IDF hours after President Trump's announcement of the deal.