In war-ravaged Gaza, Palestinians fear their plight is being overshadowed as a potential ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel nears, insisting that any Lebanon deal must also bring an end to the war in the enclave.
Samia Yassin, 32, from Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood said that “if the war stops in Lebanon, it must stop in Gaza.”
The Palestinian woman fears that Gazans would be “left alone” as the world scrambles to secure a ceasefire deal in Lebanon.
“I demand that the war stop, (for) us and Lebanon together.”
Khalil Yousef, a 45-year-old from Al-Daraj neighborhood, east of Gaza City, said that while he hopes the ceasefire deal is signed between Israel and Hezbollah, he doubts it’ll last.
“The occupation (Israel) does not abide by agreements,” Yousef told CNN. The father of two nonetheless hopes a Lebanon-Israel deal brings an end to the war in Gaza.
“We in Gaza hope that the war in Lebanon and Gaza will stop together,” he said. “We are victims of a war that has nothing to do with us. After these months, enough of the war in Gaza and Lebanon.”
Saqr Alian, 38, was also skeptical of a deal lasting in Lebanon, but said he is “in favor of stopping every drop of blood (spilling) from our people and the Lebanese people.”
Khader Al-Za’anoun of Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, contributed reporting.
