With no political resolution in sight, both sides fear the return of conflict despite the temporary ceasefire.
As a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took hold after another round of violence in Gaza, many people on both sides expressed a sense of weary resignation, fearing that without a political solution, the violence will continue to cycle.
In Gaza, Ashraf Abu Mohammad, a local shop owner, summed up the sentiment: “Life will return, because this is not the first war, and it will not be the last war.” He reflected on the heavy toll the conflict has taken on his community, with families lost and entire neighborhoods destroyed. “The heart is in pain,” he said, acknowledging the ongoing hardships but accepting it as part of life in the region.
In Beit Hanoun, a town in northern Gaza, residents surveyed the devastation, many grieving the loss of loved ones and homes. Azhar Nsair, a local resident, described the scale of destruction as unprecedented. “We see such huge destruction here, it’s the first time in history we’ve seen this.”
The recent ceasefire may offer a temporary respite, but the lack of a comprehensive peace deal leaves many fearing that this will not be the last conflict in the region.
