Folks in Gaza have reacted with shock after US President Donald Trump appeared to welcome Hamas’s response to his peace plan for the territory.
Lots of of Palestinians flooded my social media accounts and messaging apps with questions like: “Has the warfare ended?” and “Is that this a dream or actuality?”
The tempo of developments in a single day has left many struggling to know what comes subsequent.
The motion’s fastidiously crafted assertion – thought to have been drafted with the assistance of mediators – stopped wanting outright rejection and as an alternative provided a certified “sure”.
Hamas accepted Trump’s phrases for the discharge of Israeli hostages and the thought of handing over the governance of Gaza to Palestinian technocrats – however didn’t give a transparent response to many other elements of his 20-point proposal.
It was, many Palestinians say, a calculated reply that put the ball again in Israel’s court docket.
Quickly after it was revealed, Trump wrote on social media that he believed Hamas was prepared for peace and known as on Israel to cease the bombing of Gaza.
Reactions amongst Palestinians within the territory ranged from hope to deep suspicion.
Some concern Hamas has walked right into a lure, and that Israel will reclaim its hostages solely to renew the warfare. Others consider a historic alternative has opened to finish two years of battle.
“I counsel endurance,” Ibrahim Fares instructed the BBC.
“Do not get carried away by optimism. There will probably be rounds of talks over the main points. The satan is at all times within the element,” he mentioned. “Take a look at Lebanon, the place even now there are nonetheless displaced folks and airstrikes.”
Mahmoud Daher famous on Fb that Hamas’s response was uncommon for its directness.
“This time it was sure with out the standard ‘however’ instantly after,” he wrote.
“Sure to prisoner launch beneath Trump’s method, sure to ending the warfare and withdrawal, sure to handing energy to a Palestinian authority. The buts got here solely later. Hamas even performed to Trump’s ego with reward.”
However not everyone seems to be satisfied.
Gaza-based activist and long-time Hamas critic Khalil Abu Shammala mentioned the choice was concerning the motion’s survival.
“They are going to name this knowledge – or placing the folks first. However the fact is, it is about Hamas staying in energy. I even doubt Hamas wrote the assertion – it was too intelligent.”
For now, Palestinians stay unsure as they wait to see whether or not the phrases on paper can actually be sufficient to finish the warfare.
