US President Donald Trump’s recently announced ceasefire plan for Gaza has been met with cautious optimism across Palestinian political and public circles, amid deep scepticism about Washington’s motives and its longstanding unconditional support for Israel.
Palestinians have long viewed US policy as being heavily tilted towards Israel, whether through American vetoes at the UN Security Council shielding Israel from condemnation for alleged war crimes, or through ongoing military aid shipments to the Israeli army, which Palestinians say uses them to kill civilians.
Despite those concerns, the Palestinian leadership and public alike expressed cautious approval of the Trump plan, driven largely by exhaustion and desperation after two years of relentless bloodshed in Gaza.
The Palestinian Presidency issued a statement through the official Palestinian WAFA News Agency welcoming Trump’s plan to halt the war and move towards detailed negotiations.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised Trump’s “efforts to end the war in the Gaza Strip and advance towards lasting peace,” urging all parties to show “the highest sense of national responsibility.”
“What matters most now is the immediate and total cessation of hostilities, the release of all hostages and prisoners, the entry of urgent humanitarian aid through UN agencies, the prevention of forced displacement or annexation, and the start of reconstruction,” he said.
Although Gaza has not been under the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) direct control for years, Abbas emphasised that “sovereignty over the Gaza Strip belongs to the state of Palestine,” adding that the West Bank and Gaza must be linked “through unified Palestinian institutions and security forces within one legal system supported by Arab and international partners.”
He vowed to continue working with “mediators and relevant partners to ensure these efforts succeed and to achieve lasting peace that ends the Israeli occupation of the state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) also welcomed Trump’s initiative, describing it as a potential path towards ending the war but requested clarifications on several of the plan’s 21 points.
Hamas said it would participate “responsibly” in a national dialogue on Gaza’s future, stressing that any governing authority in the Strip must be a professional, Palestinian-led administrative body.
The movement also expressed its readiness to transfer Gaza’s administration to an independent technocratic authority, formed through national consensus and supported by the Arab and Islamic states.
Regarding broader political and humanitarian issues raised by the plan, Hamas insisted that all matters concerning Gaza’s long-term status and Palestinian national rights must be handled “within a unified national framework based on international law and relevant UN resolutions.”
Immediately after Trump’s announcement, hundreds of displaced Palestinians in Gaza took to the streets and gathered in schoolyards and shelters, chanting for an end to the war.
Among the chants echoing through the camps was “we want to go home!” – a cry of yearning for return despite the widespread destruction of their neighbourhoods.
“We’ve lived through two years of unbearable suffering,” said Mahmoud Ismail, a displaced resident of Gaza, in an interview with Al-Ahram Weekly.
“Moving between tents and overcrowded UN schools, we never felt safe. The blood of our people keeps flowing at the hands of the most brutal state in this world – Israel.”
“We know our homes are gone, but we just want to live without the constant sound of explosions, airstrikes, and drones.”
CAUTIOUS SUPPORT: A Palestinian Centre for Public Opinion (PCPO) survey conducted between 28 September and 3 October among 304 respondents aged 18 and above in the West Bank and Gaza found that 68.1 per cent viewed Trump’s plan positively to varying degrees.
Meanwhile, 60.5 per cent believed the Trump administration had the capability, at least partially, to enforce its terms on all the parties involved.
According to the poll, 43.8 per cent of respondents viewed the PA as the most suitable body to manage Gaza during any transitional period. In the West Bank, 70 per cent assessed the plan positively, compared to 27 per cent who saw it as negative. In Gaza, 65 per cent responded positively versus 30 per cent negatively, signalling cautious openness among war-weary residents.
Nabil Kukali, head of the polling centre, said the results showed that Palestinian public opinion is “at a decisive crossroads, combining realism with a firm commitment to national sovereignty.”
Speaking to the Weekly, Kukali said that while the ceasefire efforts, Arab support, and Palestinian oversight of aid received broad approval, doubts persisted regarding the international and Israeli involvement.
“The issue of prisoners remains a key test of any settlement’s credibility,” he said, adding that the rejection of external tutelage reflected a deep-rooted sense of national awareness.
Despite widespread political pessimism, Kukali noted that a cautious sense of hope is emerging, particularly in Gaza, reflecting a readiness to support any initiative that guarantees justice, sovereignty, and stability.
He described the Palestinian mood as one of “cautious realism” prioritising an end to the war, adherence to legitimate leadership, and rejection of foreign control.
Economically and humanitarianly, Palestinians recognise their dependence on external funding yet remain wary of international motives.
The issue of the prisoners, he added, remains “non-negotiable,” while the Trump plan is seen as “a limited opportunity [vitiated by a lack of] trust in American and Israeli intentions and one that, if it succeeds, will likely be temporary.”
Political analyst Raafat Al-Jawabra told the Weekly that Palestinians want the plan to be “real and not just a pretext to secure the release of Israeli captives.”
“They want a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip,” he said, adding that “no settlement will be acceptable without the release of all Palestinian prisoners, especially leaders of the resistance movements, such as Marwan Barghouti of Fatah and senior Hamas figures.”
Al-Jawabra added that the Palestinians also demand “a comprehensive political solution,” involving a unified Palestinian delegation to negotiate statehood within the framework of Trump’s proposed plan.
HAMAS’ ROLE: The poll also revealed divided opinions regarding Hamas’ participation in any future civilian administration of Gaza.
While 34.5 per cent of those surveyed supported excluding Hamas, 23 per cent opposed the idea, and 35.5 per cent said it could be acceptable “under conditions.” About 6.9 per cent declined to answer, highlighting the unresolved debate over Hamas’ political future.
Regarding reports about former UK prime minister Tony Blair potentially leading a temporary international administration in Gaza, 58.8 per cent of respondents dismissed it as “an idea that will not materialise,” while 16.1 per cent said it “might become reality,” 12.5 per cent saw it as “a practical option,” and the remainder were uncertain.
When asked about the idea of a foreign-led transitional authority, 59.9 per cent rejected it outright as undermining Palestinian legitimacy.
Another 19.7 per cent were hesitant but open to it as a temporary measure, 16.8 per cent said they would accept it if transparent and fair, and 3.6 per cent expressed no opinion.
Commenting on these findings, Kukali said they showed that “the majority of Palestinians do not see Blair as a realistic option,” viewing such proposals as theoretical rather than practical.
He added that the results of the poll underscored the strong public attachment to national sovereignty and the rejection of any external tutelage over Palestinian decision making.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 9 October, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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