The Imperative of Cessation: Examining Palestinian Civilian Pressures on Hamas to Accept the US-Proposed Ceasefire in Gaza (October 2025)
Abstract: This paper analyzes Palestinian civilian sentiment in the Gaza Strip regarding a US-proposed ceasefire plan as reported on October 3, 2025, after nearly two years of devastating conflict. Drawing on journalistic interviews, the study reveals widespread war fatigue, profound suffering, and a significant public demand for Hamas to accept the proposed terms. Civilians articulate a clear disconnect between the organizational objectives of Hamas and the existential needs of the populace, expressing frustration over perceived negligence of public opinion. While the US-brokered plan offers a potential end to hostilities, the analysis uncovers deep skepticism among Palestinians about Hamas’s willingness to prioritize civilian welfare over its own political and military demands. The paper argues that these expressed sentiments highlight a critical legitimacy challenge for Hamas and underscore the humanitarian imperative driving civilian calls for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire.
Keywords: Gaza Strip, Palestinian civilians, ceasefire, Hamas, US mediation, humanitarian crisis, public opinion, conflict resolution, legitimacy, war fatigue.
- Introduction
The Gaza Strip, a densely populated enclave, has been subjected to protracted conflict and severe humanitarian crises for decades. The period leading up to October 2025 marked nearly two years of intensified hostilities, following the October 7, 2023, attack, resulting in unprecedented destruction, displacement, and loss of life. In late September 2025, a new ceasefire proposal, unveiled by US President Donald Trump, emerged as a potential pathway to de-escalation and peace. This plan, brokered during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, presented specific terms for both Hamas and Israel, raising hopes and anxieties across the war-torn territory.
Amidst these diplomatic efforts, the voices of ordinary Palestinians living under siege offer crucial insights into the conflict’s human toll and the public’s aspirations for its resolution. This paper examines the articulated sentiments of Palestinians in Gaza, as reported in a journalistic account dated October 3, 2025, specifically focusing on their calls for Hamas to accept the US-proposed ceasefire. The central thesis of this paper is that the reported civilian discourse reflects a profound war fatigue, a critical assessment of Hamas’s priorities, and a burgeoning demand for an end to suffering, thereby highlighting internal pressures on the armed group to prioritize the welfare of the population.
- Contextual Background: The Gaza Conflict (2023-2025) and the US Ceasefire Proposal
The conflict escalating since October 2023 has been characterized by extensive Israeli military operations in Gaza, aimed at dismantling Hamas’s military and governance capabilities, in response to the October 7 attack. These operations have led to the destruction of infrastructure, widespread displacement, and a severe humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in precarious conditions, facing shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. The cumulative suffering over nearly two years has created an urgent demand for an end to hostilities, transforming the concept of “ceasefire” from a political negotiation point into an existential necessity for the civilian population.
The US-proposed ceasefire plan, unveiled on September 29, 2025, by President Trump, presented a multi-faceted approach to de-escalation. Key provisions included:
For Hamas: The release of all remaining Israeli hostages (an estimated 20 living individuals and 25 bodies) within 72 hours of the plan’s commencement.
For Israel: The release of approximately 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, an additional 1,700 Palestinians detained during the war, and the remains of 15 dead Palestinian prisoners for each Israeli hostage whose body is returned.
However, the proposal also contained elements reportedly deemed unacceptable by Hamas, notably:
A ban on Hamas exercising future power in Gaza.
A requirement for Hamas to disarm.
The establishment of a transitional government overseen by foreign officials, including President Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
President Trump’s statement that a rejection by Hamas would lead to a “green light” for Israel to “finish the job” underscored the high stakes of the proposal and the immense pressure placed on Hamas’s leadership (Stack, 2025).
- Methodology
This paper employs a qualitative textual analysis of a news report titled “‘Enough is enough’: Many Palestinians say Hamas must accept ceasefire plan,” published by Liam Stack (via The Straits Times/New York Times) on October 3, 2025. This article serves as the primary data source, providing direct and indirect testimonies from Palestinian civilians in Gaza regarding the US ceasefire proposal.
The analytical approach involves:
Identification of Key Themes: Extracting recurring sentiments, concerns, and demands expressed by the interviewed Palestinians.
Quotational Analysis: Examining direct quotes to understand the intensity and nature of public sentiment.
Contextual Interpretation: Placing these sentiments within the broader socio-political and humanitarian context of the Gaza Strip, as described in the article.
Limitations: It is essential to acknowledge the limitations inherent in analyzing a single journalistic account. The reported interviews represent a snapshot of opinion from a limited number of individuals and may not be fully representative of the entire Palestinian population in Gaza. Journalistic interviews are also subject to selection bias, interviewee willingness to speak openly in a conflict zone, and the journalist’s framing. Nevertheless, this article offers valuable direct testimonials, providing a qualitative insight into the lived experiences and expressed desires of a segment of the affected population.
- Analysis and Findings: The Civilian Imperative for Peace
The analysis of the journalistic account reveals a clear and urgent message from interviewed Palestinians: a profound yearning for an end to the war, coupled with a direct appeal to Hamas to accept the proposed ceasefire. This sentiment is rooted in nearly two years of unbearable suffering and the destruction of their communities.
4.1. Overwhelming War Fatigue and Desire for Cessation
The predominant sentiment articulated by civilians is one of intense war fatigue and a desperate desire for the conflict to end. Mr. Mahmoud Bolbol, a 43-year-old construction worker, encapsulates this feeling, stating, “Hamas must say yes to this offer – we have been through hell already” (Stack, 2025). This statement underscores the cumulative psychological and physical toll of the war, where continued conflict is seen as an unbearable extension of existing suffering. The proposal, therefore, represents not just a political agreement but a vital lifeline for survival and recovery.
The concept of “enough is enough” resonates deeply, highlighted by Mr. Bolbol’s plea: “Hamas needs to understand: Enough is enough” (Stack, 2025). This phrase signifies a breaking point, a collective exhaustion with violence and its devastating consequences. The article suggests that conversations among neighbors focused almost exclusively on the ceasefire proposal, indicating its pervasive importance in daily life and thought (Stack, 2025).
4.2. Critiques of Hamas’s Priorities and Legitimacy
A significant theme emerging from the interviews is a perceived disconnect between Hamas’s organizational interests and the welfare of the Palestinian people. Mr. Bolbol pointedly asks, “Most Palestinians in Gaza are not members of the group… so why drag us into this?” (Stack, 2025). This question highlights a fundamental challenge to Hamas’s legitimacy and its claim to represent the entire Palestinian population, particularly when its actions lead to widespread civilian suffering.
Ms. Nasayem Muqat, 30, who fled Israeli military operations, expressed deep despair: “We are dying for nothing, and no one cares about us… Hamas needs to think more of us and what we have been through” (Stack, 2025). This sentiment reveals a feeling of abandonment and a direct challenge to Hamas to prioritize the human cost of the conflict. Mr. Abdelhalim Awad, a 57-year-old bakery manager, further amplified this critique, stating that Hamas “don’t care about what people think or public opinion. If they cared about that, we wouldn’t be in this situation” (Stack, 2025). Such statements suggest a significant erosion of trust and confidence in Hamas’s leadership, particularly concerning its calculus of costs and benefits in the ongoing conflict.
4.3. Civilian Agency and Calls for External Intervention
Despite their dire circumstances, Palestinians demonstrate a form of civilian agency through their vocal demands and expressions of hope, however fragile. Mr. Mahmoud Abu Mattar, 35, an accountant displaced multiple times, articulates a profound frustration with the protracted negotiations conducted by “The ones negotiating on my behalf are sitting in air-conditioned rooms… They are not the ones living in sand, walking half an hour to fetch water or searching for a bag of flour and getting killed” (Stack, 2025). This statement not only critiques the detachment of negotiators but also implicitly asserts the moral authority of those experiencing the direct consequences of war.
Mr. Abu Mattar’s wish “that Trump forces it as a reality on both sides, directly, without giving a choice” (Stack, 2025) underscores a deep-seated desire for decisive external action to override the intransigence of conflicting parties. This plea for forceful international intervention reflects a loss of faith in the internal actors’ willingness or ability to prioritize peace.
4.4. The Existential Stakes of Rejection
The prospect of Hamas rejecting the ceasefire carries profoundly personal and existential implications for civilians. Mr. Bolbol indicated that if Hamas rejects the plan, his family would finally leave Gaza City for the perceived “relative safety” of the enclave’s south (Stack, 2025). This decision, after nearly two years of enduring the conflict in their battered home, highlights the ultimate desperation and the realization that continued resistance, in their view, would make their home uninhabitable. The choice to leave signifies a vote of no confidence in continued armed struggle as a viable path for the future.
- Discussion: Civilian Sentiment and the Legitimacy of Non-State Actors
The sentiments expressed by Palestinians in Gaza, as reported, offer critical insights into the dynamics of public opinion within a besieged population governed by a non-state armed actor. Firstly, the overwhelming desire for an end to hostilities underscores the humanitarian imperative that must be central to any conflict resolution effort. The “enough is enough” refrain is not merely an expression of impatience but a testament to the intolerable conditions imposed by prolonged warfare. This public pressure can be a significant, albeit often overlooked, factor in the strategic calculations of armed groups.
Secondly, the pointed critiques of Hamas’s priorities represent a challenge to its political legitimacy. For an armed group that claims to represent the Palestinian people and resist occupation, a perceived disregard for the suffering of that very populace can erode its moral authority and popular support. While Hamas may derive legitimacy from its resistance narrative, prolonged civilian suffering without clear strategic gains can shift public sentiment, potentially creating internal pressures for a change in strategy towards prioritizing survival and reconstruction. The expressed frustration about being “dragged into this” without being members of Hamas highlights a potential widening gap between the movement’s base and the broader population.
Thirdly, the calls for external intervention, particularly the desire for the US to “force” a deal, reflect a profound disillusionment with both local and regional actors’ capacity or willingness to secure peace. In the absence of a perceived effective internal mechanism for political accountability, external actors are seen as the last resort to impose a resolution. This speaks to the immense power asymmetries in the conflict and the limited avenues for civilian agency to directly influence outcomes.
Finally, the potential decision of families to abandon their homes and seek safety elsewhere if Hamas rejects the deal is a potent symbol of how civilian populations adapt, resist, and make agonizing choices in the face of ongoing violence. This personal decision to flee, even within the confines of a besieged territory, serves as a direct, albeit tragic, form of disapproval of continued conflict.
- Conclusion
The journalistic account from October 2025 offers a stark portrayal of Palestinian civilian sentiment in Gaza amidst a crucial ceasefire negotiation. After nearly two years of devastating conflict, a significant segment of the population is articulate in its demand for an immediate end to hostilities, urging Hamas to accept the US-proposed plan. Their voices reveal profound war fatigue, deep frustration with what they perceive as Hamas’s self-serving priorities, and a desperate plea for an end to their suffering.
These articulated sentiments pose a significant challenge to Hamas’s legitimacy and its strategic calculus. While the armed group may have its own political and security objectives, the overwhelming humanitarian imperative articulated by the population it claims to represent cannot be indefinitely ignored without risking a further erosion of popular support. The desire for peace, even if imposed by external actors, underscores the desperate hope for reprieve from a seemingly endless cycle of violence.
Further research would benefit from broader, more systematic studies of Palestinian public opinion in Gaza, conducted through rigorous methodologies, to comprehensively understand the nuances and diversity of views. Nevertheless, the voices captured in this journalistic report provide a powerful and poignant testament to the human cost of conflict and the civilian imperative for cessation. The plea of “Enough is enough” stands as a critical reminder that any sustainable resolution in the Gaza Strip must ultimately address the profound needs and desires of its suffering population.
References:
Stack, L. (2025, October 3). ‘Enough is enough’: Many Palestinians say Hamas must accept ceasefire plan. The Straits Times. (Original story published by The New York Times).
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