People in Gaza are growing increasingly skeptical that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is still holding, with many believing it's just a "declaration, not reality." According to residents who spoke to The Intercept, the situation on the ground suggests otherwise. The past two years of war have left deep scars, and the recent airstrikes have reignited fears for their lives.
As Aya Nasser, a 20-year-old university student, recalled, she was in bed when Israeli missiles exploded just outside her home, killing nine people from a single family. Her neighborhood has been targeted multiple times since the ceasefire went into effect. "The fear is indescribable," she said, anticipating further attacks.
For Hala, a 20-year-old woman who was shopping at a market for her upcoming wedding, the experience was particularly traumatic. When Israeli missiles struck nearby homes, her fiancé's cousin and his family were killed. Despite the danger, Hala remained hopeful that the ceasefire would hold, but she said it "exists only on paper."
Morten Rostrup, a physician working with Doctors Without Borders at al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza City, described the scene after the airstrikes. "There is no doubt this is an attack on civilians," he said. "Do we really call this a ceasefire?" The hospital treated 242 patients wounded from the attacks, with 49 later dying in treatment.
Esraa, a 20-year-old writer and student, expressed her skepticism about the ceasefire. When Israeli missiles struck during the night, she felt as though history was repeating itself, echoing memories of two years of war. "They keep bombing and killing people and then declare that the so-called ceasefire is still going on," she said.
The situation in Gaza remains dire. Israel continues to demolish structures within parts of Gaza it occupies, making the territory even more uninhabitable. Palestinians are caught between hope for peace and fear of further violence. The uncertainty is crippling, and many feel their lives are being constantly threatened.
For Trump, continuing to say that the ceasefire holds may provide diplomatic cover for Israel's actions, enabling the U.S. and international community to ease pressure on Israel. Kenney-Shawa said, "For Trump and for the Israelis, what matters is the appearance of a ceasefire." The Intercept spoke to experts who believe the situation in Gaza reflects the larger picture: that as long as there is an appearance of a ceasefire, it allows for business as usual.
Tasneem, a 25-year-old homemaker, expressed her disillusionment with Trump's claim. "Where is the ceasefire they talk about?" she asked. Marah, a 22-year-old English literature student at Islamic University of Gaza, said that only when Israel's occupation ends can there be true peace in Gaza.
The Intercept has found widespread skepticism among Palestinians regarding the ceasefire agreement, and it seems unlikely that many will regain trust as long as violence continues to erupt.
As Aya Nasser, a 20-year-old university student, recalled, she was in bed when Israeli missiles exploded just outside her home, killing nine people from a single family. Her neighborhood has been targeted multiple times since the ceasefire went into effect. "The fear is indescribable," she said, anticipating further attacks.
For Hala, a 20-year-old woman who was shopping at a market for her upcoming wedding, the experience was particularly traumatic. When Israeli missiles struck nearby homes, her fiancé's cousin and his family were killed. Despite the danger, Hala remained hopeful that the ceasefire would hold, but she said it "exists only on paper."
Morten Rostrup, a physician working with Doctors Without Borders at al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza City, described the scene after the airstrikes. "There is no doubt this is an attack on civilians," he said. "Do we really call this a ceasefire?" The hospital treated 242 patients wounded from the attacks, with 49 later dying in treatment.
Esraa, a 20-year-old writer and student, expressed her skepticism about the ceasefire. When Israeli missiles struck during the night, she felt as though history was repeating itself, echoing memories of two years of war. "They keep bombing and killing people and then declare that the so-called ceasefire is still going on," she said.
The situation in Gaza remains dire. Israel continues to demolish structures within parts of Gaza it occupies, making the territory even more uninhabitable. Palestinians are caught between hope for peace and fear of further violence. The uncertainty is crippling, and many feel their lives are being constantly threatened.
For Trump, continuing to say that the ceasefire holds may provide diplomatic cover for Israel's actions, enabling the U.S. and international community to ease pressure on Israel. Kenney-Shawa said, "For Trump and for the Israelis, what matters is the appearance of a ceasefire." The Intercept spoke to experts who believe the situation in Gaza reflects the larger picture: that as long as there is an appearance of a ceasefire, it allows for business as usual.
Tasneem, a 25-year-old homemaker, expressed her disillusionment with Trump's claim. "Where is the ceasefire they talk about?" she asked. Marah, a 22-year-old English literature student at Islamic University of Gaza, said that only when Israel's occupation ends can there be true peace in Gaza.
The Intercept has found widespread skepticism among Palestinians regarding the ceasefire agreement, and it seems unlikely that many will regain trust as long as violence continues to erupt.
I'm telling you, something fishy is going on here! The so-called "ceasefire" sounds like a total joke to me 
. These airstrikes and attacks are not what we'd call a "declaration of peace". More like a smokescreen to make everyone think everything's okay 
. And don't even get me started on the demolishing of buildings in Gaza - that's just plain old colonialism, dude! 
The Palestinians deserve better than to be treated like animals 
.
. I bet if we dig deep enough, we'll find out that he's been working with Israel all along 
. The Intercept is onto something here 
. The situation on the ground doesn't seem to be reflecting what's happening on the surface with the ceasefire, and that's really worrying 
.
. It's not about the Palestinians or their lives; it's about maintaining power and control. The people in Gaza are caught between hope for peace and fear of violence, and it's just so exhausting 
.
.
. And to think that Doctors Without Borders had to treat so many patients and see 49 of them pass away... it's just devastating.
. It's like they're just saying what they want people to hear, rather than listening to what's really happening on the ground. And honestly, I think that's a pretty sad state of affairs 
.
. We can't just keep pretending everything is fine when it's not... we have to do better than that 
.
. I mean, we're still hearing stories of families being killed, homes being demolished, and people living in constant fear because of some "ceasefire" that's supposed to be holding. It's just not happening, guys 
. We need real action, not just words. And as long as we're not seeing any tangible progress towards peace and an end to Israeli occupation, I don't think many Palestinians will regain trust anytime soon 
. It's time for our leaders to take a closer look at what's really going on and demand some serious change 
... I feel like these people are living in a state of constant fear 
. You can't blame them for not trusting the ceasefire agreement after what they've been through 
... it's like they're not even paying attention to what's happening on the ground 
.
aya's story broke my heart
it makes no sense 
how can they do this to innocent ppl? 
. We need to put an end to this cycle of violence and work towards a lasting solution that prioritizes the well-being of all parties involved 
last night and I'm still trying to figure out why they sleep so much! Like, what's up with all those naps? And the way they just curl up into a ball and snooze... it's like they're saying, "Peace and quiet, human, leave me alone!"
. I mean, can you blame them for being skeptical about this ceasefire thing? It sounds like it's all just hot air to me 
. Like when people say they're going to lose weight but then they just keep eating the same old junk food... yeah, no thanks!
The fact that they're demolishing structures and killing innocent people left and right is like, totally against everything a ceasefire is supposed to be about. It's all just a bunch of lip service if you ask me 
. we need actions that prioritize human life & dignity 
. I think what's even more frustrating is that no one wants to take responsibility for these actions... who's behind it all? Are we just going to keep pretending that everything is fine when, in reality, people are living with fear every single day? 