According to a new report by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (F.A.Z.), residents like Shehda Hijazi from Khan Yunis express cautious optimism. Hijazi, 42, notes a significant decrease in shelling and bombings, stating, "The weapons are silent." He also observes an improvement in humanitarian conditions, with more aid deliveries leading to markets gradually restocking and food prices beginning to fall. For instance, the price of a kilo of onions, tomatoes, or potatoes has reportedly dropped from 78 shekels (approximately 21 Euros) to 15 shekels (around four Euros).
The ceasefire agreement, part of a twenty-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, aims to improve the humanitarian situation alongside the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The plan envisions 600 aid trucks entering Gaza daily, a target set by the United Nations (UN). However, initial figures from the World Food Programme (WFP) suggest a much lower number, with only 173 trucks reaching the coastal strip in the first days post-ceasefire. The distribution of aid remains a significant hurdle due to destroyed infrastructure and past instances of looting by desperate crowds.
Antoine Renard, WFP Country Director for the Palestinian territories, emphasizes the need for a "flood of aid" to address the severe hunger crisis. He criticizes the continued closure of key border crossings like Erez, Zikim, and Rafah for aid deliveries. Renard notes that while the situation improved in September with more consistent deliveries after an official declaration of famine in northern Gaza, sustained political will is crucial. The health ministry, partially controlled by Hamas, reported 461 deaths due to malnutrition since October 2023, with a famine officially declared in the north by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative.
Despite the positive signals regarding aid, Gaza faces a new internal struggle, described by Hijazi as "a war after the war." This refers to the implementation of the second phase of the Trump peace plan, which calls for the disarmament of Hamas and its removal from political power. More immediately, reports indicate clashes between Hamas and the influential Dughmush clan in Gaza City, resulting in approximately 30 deaths. Videos circulating on social media also depict Hamas members brutally executing alleged collaborators, further highlighting the volatile internal dynamics.
Following the Israeli army's withdrawal from half of the Gaza Strip, Hamas is reportedly attempting to reassert control on the streets, deploying security forces to checkpoints and targeting rival armed groups. WFP's Renard stresses that law and order are fundamental prerequisites for long-term humanitarian improvement, a point he urges the international community to focus on in negotiations for the second phase of the Gaza agreement. Hijazi, among others, advocates for political solutions and elections, stating, "The time for fear is over." He believes the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas plunged the Palestinian people into an abyss, and the bloodshed must cease.
Photo: The source