Gaza Civilians See Trump Peace Plan as Disconnected from Escalating War

The gap between diplomatic rhetoric and the situation on the ground has widened significantly since Thursday, when the U.S. president hailed a milestone in the October peace plan. While the agreement envisions a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces and the disarmament of Hamas, both sides remain locked in a cycle of intransigence. Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, maintains that troops will not retreat until tunnels are destroyed and Hamas is fully disarmed, while Hamas continues to insist on a complete cessation of hostilities before any discussion of its arsenal.

For the two million people confined to the shrinking coastal strip, the political deadlock is secondary to immediate survival. Israeli troops now occupy between 60% and 70% of the enclave, forcing thousands into repeated displacement. Soumah Dawla, 60, described finding new demarcation lines near her home, signaling further encroachment. She and other residents report that the promised stability has yielded only intensified strikes and destruction. Since the October agreement, Gaza health authorities report at least 1,230 Palestinian deaths, underscoring the lethal disconnect between the negotiating table and the rubble of Gaza City.