Skip to content

'We are tired of war': Israelis and Gazans fear ceasefire collapse

Gabriela Pomeroy & Maia Davies
BBC News
Hostage release "a matter of life and death," says mother of man held by Hamas

Israel has warned Hamas it will resume its military operations in Gaza if the Palestinian armed group "does not return our hostages by Saturday," sparking fresh anxiety for people on both sides of the conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks came after Hamas said it would not free more hostages until further notice, claiming Israel had violated the terms of the three-week-old ceasefire deal.

With the fragile agreement to end the fighting under growing strain, Israelis and Palestinians have shared their fears of its possible collapse with BBC News.

On the streets of Khan Younis, Gaza's second largest city, 21-year-old Imad Qudaih said "tension and fear" dominate.

"No one wants war to return again," he said from the southern city, where conditions remain "extremely difficult".

Imad said there was anger about Trump's proposal for Gazans to leave the strip, as well as fear of displacement - but he believed Trump's plan was "not going to be achievable" and "is just words".

Displaced from eastern Gaza, Salman Mahmoud Abed said he "hoped to God" the ceasefire would continue.

"We are people who have been displaced and are homeless," he told the BBC.

"We lost our children, and our homes, and we are about to lose our mental health as well.

"There is no normal life, no proper food or any psychological relief.

"We ask Hamas and Israel not to resume the war, because we are tired of the war."

Imad Qudaih Imad Qudaih stands in front of destroyed buildings and a bright blue tent, wearing a light blue t-shirt and black glasses.Imad Qudaih
Imad Qudaih, 21, said uncertainty over the ceasefire had exacerbated tensions in Gaza

Ali Ismail Royshid - another Palestinian who has been displaced several times, most recently from Jabalia refugee camp - told the BBC: "Enough with the tragedy, enough of the farce."

"We want them to try to keep to the conditions, hold to the ceasefire and stop the war."

Even with the pause in fighting, they were still far from an end to the war, he said, adding: "The war is still there, we are still homeless.

"How can we forget the war while we are still homeless living in tents?"

Abu Ahmed stands in a cream-coloured jacket zipped partly open at the front and a dark blue woollen hat, his hands held out, in front of a makeshift tent, buildings and clothes on a line.
Abu Ahmed is determined to stay in Gaza

Abu Ahmed, who was displaced from northern Gaza, said he was scared neither of the war nor of Trump's statements.

"We are not scared of the war, because we have witnessed a lot, and whatever happens, so be it," he said.

"We are staying here and whatever God wants, will happen eventually."

Meanwhile in Israel, Liron Berman, whose twin 27-year-old brothers Gali and Ziv are being held hostage, has just found out that the pair are alive.

"To get the sign of life from my brothers is a lot for us, this is amazing," he told the BBC, his voice shaking with emotion.

"It lifts us up a little bit and we are fighting with urgency to get them out."

But he said their only chance was to keep the deal.

"My family's mission is to make sure the deal to release the hostages will remain. Only through releasing the hostages will the ceasefire stay in place," he says.

Vicki Cohen - whose son Nimrod was taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October 2023 - spoke plainly about the situation.

"It is a matter of life and death," she said. "They are in danger any minute."

She said the most recent release of hostages had sharpened fears.

Last week, three male hostages were paraded in front of the cameras by Hamas gunmen during a stage-managed handover inside Gaza. The trio appeared gaunt and sunken-eyed.

"I am so afraid and so worried for my son," she said.

Reuters A crowd holds placards and posters calling for the return of hostages, including pictures of Omer Shem Tov.Reuters
Omar Shem Tov, 22, is among the 33 hostages meant to be released in the ceasefire's first phase

In an appeal to Netanyahu to ensure the hostages' return, she said: "Do the right thing... do what is good for the whole society."

Her concerns were echoed by Dudi Zalmanovich, another relative of one of the hostages still being held captive by Hamas.

His 22-year-old nephew Omer Shem Tov was supposed to be among those due to be freed during the first phase of the ceasefire because he has a health condition.

"This news around the possibility that the deal will stop is really frightening us," Mr Zalmanovich said.

Like Vicki, he said the "very, very bad" physical condition of the recently released hostages had heightened his anxiety.

Now, Mr Zalmanovich said he feared "any excuse" could be used to collapse the deal.

Additional reporting by Michael Shuval and BBC Arabic.