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As soon as Arij al-Farra learned that Hamas had conditionally agreed to the US president's initiative and that the United States had instructed Israel to halt airstrikes in Gaza, her initial response was a spark of hope. Moments following that, she felt an blast. An Israeli warplane had released a munition close to her shelter in southern Gaza.

While chance saved al-Farra from death, she interpreted the incident as an unfavorable sign for peace possibilities in the region.

"It seems like we are caught in a cycle with no way out. Regardless of Hamas accepts or refuses, we remain in danger. We've seen no let-up in attack intensity, not a single warplane has withdrawn from the airspace," explained the 23-year-old educator who had been forced to flee to Khan Younis.

Al-Farra was not alone in her skepticism regarding recent news that Hamas's conditional agreement of the US president's plan would lead to an conclusion to the long-running conflict in Gaza.

Hamas's agreement to release all hostages and surrender authority was hailed by the US administration and much of the global community as a important step toward resolution.

However the residents of Gaza have experienced similar situations previously.

Several times, the US president has promised that a ceasefire was days away, only for negotiations to suddenly fail. Israel broke a month-and-a-half pause at the beginning of the year when it independently chose to resume hostilities in March and blockade the territory, causing famine in parts of Gaza, according to prominent food security authorities.

"I hold little faith in this deal, since whenever we near a ceasefire, something happens that alters the course of plans," al-Farra explained.

In spite of these concerns, some could not help but believe that this situation might ultimately bring about an conclusion to the war that has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, injured about 170,000 more, and left most of Gaza destroyed.

"I feel hopeful and anticipate that this occasion the agreement will be more substantial than earlier attempts," said Abu Faris, a middle-aged media professional residing in the northern part of the territory. "Progress in the truce agreement would be a favorable outcome. It would meet the needs of the local population and give civilians in northern Gaza a feeling of optimism and security."

Should completely implemented, Trump's proposal to end the hostilities in Gaza would be extremely disadvantageous to Hamas and additional militant groups.

"There is a feeling of mistrust because this initiative was prepared by American officials and the war itself has persisted with clear US backing. The proposal clearly serves Israel's objectives and does not include any substantial provisions for the Palestinian people," commented Dr. Ashraf Maghari, a middle-aged professor at the Islamic University.

However, for most of the exhausted inhabitants of Gaza, neither politics nor the survival of Hamas were the main concern.

"My main goal at present is to end the war completely. If Hamas has to make concessions to achieve that, then it must bear the consequences of its actions," stated Abu Faris.

He had previously experienced the death of numerous of his family members in the war, and had been forced to move repeatedly, each time returning to find his residence more damaged. He might risk losing much more if fighting did not cease soon, as he was in northern Gaza, where military strikes are severe.

Several global organizations, including a United Nations inquiry, various humanitarian groups, and prominent genocide experts have determined that Israel has carried out atrocities in Gaza. Israel denies the allegation and states it has solely acted in self-protection. It originally launched the war on Gaza after militant fighters killed approximately 1,200 people and captured 251 prisoners in an attack on 7 October 2023.

None Abu Faris nor al-Farra trusted that Israel would negotiate an end to the war in sincerity, nor that it would result in independence for the Palestinian people. For al-Farra in particular, the prospect of disarmament was a concerning one.

However, if it led to an end to the nearly continuous bombing of their homes, each expressed that the deal would be acceptable.

"Ending the conflict for me is not just about abandoning our rights. It is about taking a moment of relief, reorganising our lives, our lives, our priorities and our thoughts," al-Farra said.