Last Tuesday night, Donald Trump announced on social networks that Iran and Israel had agreed to stop the fire, ending what he called a “12 -day war.” This is the Second War this year that begins and ends under the presidency of Trump, after the four -day conflict between India and Pakistan. They are followed by another conflict between Lebanon and Israel which began during the mandate of President Joe Biden.
In Gaza, all eyes were put in the conflict between Iran and Israel. Even without internet connection, the population found ways to follow the news: on the radio, capturing the weak telephone signals uploading to high roofs or walking near the sea, or simply staying awake all night watching the sky, where some of the missiles thrown from Iran could be seen from Gaza. Many wondered if Trump, the man who once promised to end the “endless wars” would take advantage of the moment to stop not only the war against Iran, but also the genocide in Gaza.
For 12 days, we have finally witnessed how a real power in the world went into war against Israel, the same country that has killed us, which has bombarded us and that has murdered us. But does that do any difference for those who live in Gaza? Although Israel was bombarded by Iran until the last day of our lives, nothing would return us to our loved ones, our homes, our warm city.
The last two years of our lives have passed as if they were decades. However, in just 12 days, the war between Iran and Israel is over. Trump declared that the attacks had been a total success against a “nuclear threat”, even when international inspectors (the international atomic energy agency) have expressed their disagreement. The assault to Iran is over. The assault on Gaza, the tiny coastal strip without army or Air Force, no.
Trump has not changed our situation. No relief. Only climbing. In just six months, he has failed – or rather, he has not even tried – in his attempt to end the war in Gaza. On the contrary, it has become one of its main facilitators, sending to Israel all the weapons it needs to keep it underway. And yet, offers optimism statementsstating: “I think great progress is being made in Gaza.” The president points out that his special envoy Steve Witkoff had told him that “(a progress) Gaza is very close.” A similar optimism expressed a month ago, when Witkoff talked about having “very good feelings” about the possibilities of reaching a high temporal fire. A high fire that never materialized.
I remember the first months of the war, when my little sister asked: “Why do her wars end so fast? Why is Gaza the exception?” These questions resonate in all Gaza's homes. Then we thought it was a matter of time, that international law would intervene. But for more than 600 days we have seen the same pattern repeated again and again: destruction, death, then negotiations, high fire, “advances” and more deaths.
Delegations fly to Doha and return empty -handed. This is not because peace is impossible. It is because Gaza genocide does not inflict real political or economic costs to those who are in power. Unlike Iran, Gaza does not represent a strategic threat; It cannot block trade routes such as the Ormuz Strait, nor does it have means to inflict significant damage to Israel. International pressure is weak, it is limited above all to statements, but does not impose sanctions, so it is easy to ignore it.
For Israeli leaders, peace in Gaza is simply not profitable. In fact, the continued assault serves political interests, especially those of the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is doing everything possible to avoid early elections while facing accusations of corruption, which he denies.
We have come to understand the bitter truth: our lives are conditioned. Our dreams, our future, all lacks value unless it serves geopolitical interests. Our suffering is tolerated. Our right to do justice is delayed indefinitely.
Family and malnutrition have been generalized. Electricity has been cut for almost two years. Generations of students have lost access to education. The municipalities are collapsed. The health system is overflowed. Daily life has disintegrated. The streets of Gaza, once calm, are now tormented by fear. The bombings are no longer the only threat: at night, people face robberies, assaults or even murders. Anarchy grows. The bands act openly. Israel shows no interest in restoring order. Chaos serves him better.
Look in the eyes of the people. In all, from the youngest child to the oldest grandfather, you will see empty looks, hollow looks. Eyes devoid of light. Expecting. Not necessarily death, but something ends.
Gaza longs for what everyone longs for: breathing, living, peace. But true peace cannot be declared from podiums while the bombs fall from the airplanes. It cannot be promised in speeches while the border steps remain closed. It cannot exist without a high immediate and uninterrupted fire.
A high fire that allows Gaza's sky to a sunset is sprinkled with children's comets floating gently on the rubble. For a moment, they would see them fly and think: maybe not everything that is up there means death. Maybe, just maybe, there is also an angel.
All we want is what anyone wants: that this nightmare ends. Let the war airplanes go. That the stores in the camps are again safe and warm homes. That the soft coastal breeze takes the smell of blood.
And justice may not be on today's agenda. But I still believe that one day we will see her.
Hassan Abo Qamar is a Palestinian writer and journalist resident in Gaza.
