Gaza residents split between hope and skepticism as Kushner visits Israel

As US Mideast negotiator Jared Kushner arrived in Israel on Monday to push forward a Gaza truce roadmap, displaced Palestinians in the enclave expressed a mix of cautious hope and deep skepticism.

The visit is aimed at securing Israel's approval of a plan that would halt attacks and see a withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas says it has accepted the roadmap and is urging mediators and the US-created Board of Peace to ensure its implementation.

Ibrahim Abu Marsa, a displaced resident in Gaza City, said he hopes the visit will finally end the conflict. "We have been suffering for three years from strikes, displacement, forced evictions, and the closure of border crossings," he said, describing the population as exhausted and yearning for a dignified life.

Others, however, remain unconvinced. Mohammad Abu Al-Qombouz, displaced from east of Gaza City, dismissed the flurry of diplomatic activity as hollow. "Every now and then, they say Kushner is here and there. A conference here and there, it is all lies," he said, calling for a definitive solution that works for everyone.

Basim Mohra, displaced from the north, appealed directly to Kushner and the international community to stop the suffering. "We are displaced people whose homes were destroyed, and we now live in tents," he said, noting the lack of money and available housing after widespread destruction.

Fathi Abu Daqin, displaced from the Tufah neighborhood, voiced similar distrust. "Every day, we hope for something, but in vain," he said. "We do not have faith in these people, we only have faith in God."

The war, sparked by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has left much of Gaza in ruins, with thousands of residents living in makeshift camps and reliant on aid convoys for water and basic supplies.