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With news swirling of a potential ceasefire agreement in Gaza, brokered during a high-profile meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump at the White House last week, Palestinians — particularly those in Gaza — find themselves once again suspended between cautious hope and deep skepticism. The promise of peace may be inching closer, but the lingering question remains: can the world really trust Netanyahu to honor such an agreement? And more fundamentally, can a permanent ceasefire hold in the face of Israel’s historical record of violating its own commitments?
The Gaza Strip, shattered by relentless airstrikes and years of blockade, is yearning for a pause, for a reprieve. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, families torn apart and basic services like food, water and electricity remain scarce. In this humanitarian wasteland, any talk of a ceasefire sparks a flicker of hope — but that hope is deeply guarded.
Both Netanyahu and Trump have much to gain politically from a ceasefire. Netanyahu is mired in domestic turmoil, battling corruption charges, protests and an increasingly fractured coalition. Trump is keen to present himself once again as a global statesman capable of forging historic deals. The stakes are high — but so too is the distrust.
Palestinians have seen this story play out before. Ceasefire after ceasefire — brokered by Egypt, Qatar or the UN — has collapsed due to Israeli violations, continued settlement expansion or renewed military operations. Despite declarations and photo-ops, Israel has consistently returned to tactics that violate Palestinian sovereignty and humanitarian norms. The Netanyahu government, heavily influenced by its far-right members, has shown little willingness to seriously engage with the Palestinian cause beyond security concerns.
And yet, Palestinians are not rejecting the idea of peace — they are rejecting hypocrisy. A genuine and lasting ceasefire must be more than a tactical maneuver or an electoral prop. It must include an unequivocal end to Israeli military operations in Gaza, the lifting of the suffocating blockade and a credible international mechanism to monitor compliance on both sides. Any agreement must address not only the symptoms of war, but also the root causes: occupation, displacement and political disenfranchisement.
While the US continues to play the role of chief negotiator, the international community cannot remain a bystander. It must step forward — not just to endorse any agreement, but to provide binding guarantees that Palestinians’ rights will be protected and upheld. The Arab world, the EU and the UN should demand oversight mechanisms that ensure Israel complies with its commitments and that the Palestinian people are not once again left to suffer the consequences of broken promises. International actors must insist on a framework that goes beyond ceasefire management and toward a sustainable political solution.

The people of Gaza cannot endure another ‘pause’ that merely resets the countdown to the next war.

Hani Hazaimeh

The people of Gaza cannot endure another “pause” that merely resets the countdown to the next war. They need assurance, accountability and, above all, dignity. The ceasefire must not be a reward for violence nor a temporary de-escalation until the next round of bloodshed. It must be the beginning of a broader peace process that affirms the right of Palestinians to live freely in their homeland, with access to food, water, safety and a future.
Netanyahu and Trump may seek to shape the headlines in Washington, but history will judge them by what follows on the ground in Gaza. If the proposed ceasefire does not include real protections, real oversight and real political engagement, it will join the long list of failed truces that have left Palestinian civilians to bury their dead in silence.
A meaningful ceasefire must be built on trust — but trust is earned, not imposed. And until Israel demonstrates a consistent commitment to peace and until the world holds it accountable for its actions, Palestinians will remain wary of agreements signed with smiles abroad and broken with bombs at home.
The people of Gaza are watching. The world must do more than just watch with them — it must stand with them.

• Hani Hazaimeh is a senior editor based in Amman. X: @hanihazaimeh