President Biden stated Tuesday that cease-fire talks had been “within the fingers of Hamas proper now,” and a Hamas chief in Lebanon appeared to publicly reject the deal, insisting that Israeli hostages could be launched solely after a cease-fire was in place and Israeli forces have withdrawn, a situation Israel has rejected. However the militant group signaled on Wednesday in an announcement that it was nonetheless open to negotiations “till an settlement is reached that realizes our individuals’s pursuits and calls for.”

Nidal Kuhail, 29, a resident of Gaza Metropolis who’s sheltering in Rafah, stated individuals had been carefully monitoring their telephones and radios for updates on the negotiations, however had been rising uninterested in ready day after day and not using a breakthrough.

“We’re oscillating between being comfortable after which annoyed,” stated Mr. Kuhail. “This seesawing in information reviews has made the individuals extremely confused.”

These fluctuations have been happening for months, as a sequence of talks have led to no aid since a seven-day cease-fire in November.

In early February, when reviews advised that Hamas and Israel had been nearing a deal, a celebration erupted within the Kuwait Specialty Hospital in Rafah, with individuals whistling and applauding, stated Omar al-Najjar, a volunteer medical intern there.

“The environment was upbeat,” stated Mr. Najjar, 24. “Folks may lastly see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel.” However the subsequent morning, newer reviews confirmed that the events will nonetheless removed from overcoming their variations, casting a depressed temper throughout the hospital, he stated.

Mr. Najjar stated hopes for a cease-fire had been dashed so often that many had been now not being attentive to the information. “Folks have fully misplaced hope,” he stated.

Over the previous couple of days, the saga performed out once more. Arabic information shops reported “vital progress” solely to talk of “difficulties” a day later.

Hazem Surour, 20, initially from northern Gaza, stated he had stopped letting information reviews get his hopes up after months of Israel and Hamas failing to realize a deal.

“We significantly want one thing actual, not information reviews,” he stated. “We will solely be affected person and pray.”

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