As Gaza enters the last day of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, Palestinians continue to grapple with uncertainty after negotiations on the next stage have failed to produce a clear outcome.
On the 42nd day of the truce, the enclave remains in a state of collapse, with basic services- electricity, internet, and local media- completely severed, leaving Palestinians isolated and in confusion.
The lack of reliable information about ongoing ceasefire talks has contributed to what many Gazans slammed as a “psychological war”, compounded by the already dire humanitarian situation.
Palestinian teacher Mohammad al-Salhi told The New Arab’s Arabic language edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the conflict’s emotional toll was intensified by the ambiguity surrounding the ceasefire’s future.
“The confusion and conflicting reports about the war’s end, paired with the uncertainty about what lies ahead, have created a psychological nightmare for many here,” he said.
Al-Salhi also called for international pressure to secure a permanent ceasefire, end the blockade, and initiate Gaza’s reconstruction.
Trapped in ‘cycle of contradiction’
Other Palestinians condemned the atmosphere of unease. Zeyad Abu Rajila, who described the current state as “harrowing”, claimed that the uncertainty about the war’s future made even the most basic decisions, from daily activities to personal and professional plans, fraught with fear.
“We’re stuck in a cycle of contradictory news – some reports suggest positive progress, while others indicate the failure of talks,” Abu Rajila said.
Human rights activist Anwar Drahbeh slammed the psychological toll the residents are facing, adding: “People are living under extreme pressure, unsure of when the war will end or what awaits them. The lack of clarity is taking a massive psychological toll.”
Drahbeh called for immediate steps toward a clear political resolution, including a firm ceasefire and the cessation of bloodshed and called on the upcoming Arab Summit in Cairo to pressure international actors to end the crisis.
Arab leaders were scheduled to meet in Cairo on Friday to address Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan, but the summit was postponed until next week.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, sent a delegation to Cairo for “intensive talks” on the second phase of the ceasefire.
The presence of Israeli, Qatari, and US delegations raised hopes for serious discussions, but by Saturday morning, there was no indication of agreement.
A Hamas source accused Israel of deliberately delaying the second phase, claiming: “The second phase of the ceasefire agreement is supposed to begin tomorrow, Sunday… but the occupation is still procrastinating and continuing to violate the agreement.”
Ceasefire ‘must hold’
The United Nations and humanitarian organisations have warned not to break the ceasefire after Israel committed various truce violations during deadly raids on the West Bank.
According to humanitarian organisations, aid workers in the West Bank are facing direct threats to their lives and Israel continues to block and delay aid deliveries since establishing new checkpoints.
On Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is also set to join the Arab League Summit, said that the Israel-Hamas ceasefire “must hold”. “The coming days are critical. The parties must spare no effort to avoid a breakdown of this deal,” he said in New York.
Israel has killed at least 61,707, with the bodies of thousands of victims being discovered under the rubble of homes and buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes.
