Palestinians want Trump to end conflict with Israel
GAZA/JERUSALEM
Palestinians in Gaza on Wednesday want Donald Trump, who won the US election, to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas that has devastated their territory.
“We were displaced, killed … there’s nothing left for us, we want peace,” Mamdouh al-Jadba, who was displaced to Gaza City from Jabalia, said.
“I hope Trump finds a solution, we need someone strong like Trump to end the war and save us, enough, God, this is enough,” said the 60-year-old.
“I was displaced three times, my house was destroyed, my children are homeless in the south … There’s nothing left, Gaza is finished.” Umm Ahmed Harb, from the Al-Shaaf area east of Gaza City, was also counting on Trump to “stand by our side” and end the territory’s suffering.
“God willing the war will end, not for our sake but for the sake of our young children who are innocent, they were martyred and are dying of hunger,” she said.
“We cannot buy anything with the high prices (of food). We are here in fear, terror and death.”
For Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, where violence has also surged since October last year, Trump’s victory was reason to fear for the future.
“Trump is firm in some decisions, but these decisions could serve Israel’s interests politically more than they serve the Palestinian cause,” said Samir Abu Jundi, a 60-year-old in the city of Ramallah.
Another man who identified himself only by his nickname, Abu Mohammed, said he also saw no reason to believe Trump’s victory would be in favour of the Palestinians, saying “nothing will change except more decline”.
Trump has promised to bring an end to raging international crises, even saying he could “stop wars with a telephone call”.
Imad Fakhida, a school principal in the main West Bank city of Ramallah, said “Trump’s return to power… will lead us to hell and there will be a greater and more difficult escalation.” “He is known for his complete and greatest support for Israel,” he added.
In Gaza, such statements gave reason for hope. “We expect peace to come and the war to end with Trump because in his election campaign he said that he wants peace and calls for stopping the wars on Gaza and the Middle East,” said Ibrahim Alian, 33, from Gaza City.
