World
Desperate Gazans speak of desire for Hamas to accept Trump deal to end war
Their comments came as a senior Hamas official reportedly said the terror group was unlikely to sign the peace deal
October 1, 2025 12:56
Their comments came as a senior Hamas official reportedly said the terror group was unlikely to sign the peace deal
October 1, 2025 12:56Some Gazans have spoken of their desire for Hamas to accept Donald Trump’s peace plan, bringing the war that has devastated the territory to an end, and of their wish for the terror group that runs the strip to be “eradicated” – though others view the proposal with scepticism and fear it will not improve the situation.
News outlets have heard from residents expressing hope that the deal, which Israel has signed up to, will go through, putting a stop to the relentless military bombardment and the widespread hunger and displacement across Gaza.
Their comments came, however, as it emerged that the terror group was likely to reject the US president’s deal, with an unnamed senior Hamas official telling BBC News the agreement "serves Israel's interests" and "ignores those of the Palestinian people".
The individual added that Hamas is unlikely to agree to disarming and handing over their weapons - a key requirement included in Trump's 20-point plan.
BBC News also reported that Hamas’s military commander in the territory, Ez al-Din al-Haddad, is thought to be determined to keep fighting rather than accept the plan.
The agreement, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted, and which has been welcomed by a host of Arab countries would see all the hostages, living and dead, released within 72 hours, and an intermediary governing body called the Board of Peace set up during Gaza's transitionary period until ultimately, the Palestinian Authority could take control, providing it deradicalises.
One Gazan, Nabil Al-Hissi, told Canadian broadcaster CBC: "We call on the governments of the world to erase this movement [Hamas].
"This is a corrupt movement, since the day they came to Earth, they are corrupt. This is a terrorist organisation not an Islamic one."
Commenting on the plan, he said: "We hope to God that this plan is good, and we, the Palestinian people, agree to it.
"We hope to God it is real. We have no water, no food we are hungry. We are kicked from one place to another."
Another resident, Gamal Al-Barai, said: "Hamas is not the Palestinian people. Our struggle is not Hamas's struggle". He added that it is ordinary civilians who are paying the price for the massacre Hamas carried out on October 7.
However, Al-Barai is sceptical about elements of the peace plan and that land in Gaza would eventually be returned to Palestinians: "They won't give the Palestinian people anything," he said. "[Not] even a bag of flour. They starved us in the Gaza strip."
Abdel-Haleem Harb, a father-of-two who was displaced from Gaza City to Khan Younis, told The Times: “What matters to me is that a solution is reached, whatever the reason and whatever the way.
“What matters to me, for the people of Gaza, is to stop this bloodshed in any possible way, even at our own expense.”
Another individual, Jamil Al-Aidi, reflected on the possibility of a future without Hamas, telling CBS: "We need a Palestinian government. We are able to lead ourselves by ourselves and we don't need other people.
"There is the Palestinian authority, and it is able [govern] Gaza."
If Hamas rejects the deal on offer, Netanyahu has vowed to “finish the job” in Gaza and Trump has offered him his “full backing” to do so.
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