“We have nothing to lose”: Gazan responds to Trump’s warning | Gaza News

Gaza City – For many in Gaza, it seems that the recent threat of US President Donald Trump is merely justification for further violence and collective punishment against them.

Late Wednesday, Trump threatened the people of Gaza and said that if prisoners remained detained there, they were all “dead.”

As Gaza continues to tackle the aftermath of a catastrophic war of massive displacement, widespread destruction, and humanitarian circumstances, people are exhausted and skeptical of international efforts to resolve the war.

Al Jazeera spoke to Palestinians in northern Gaza about the threat of Trump.

“There’s nothing to sadden.”

Yasser Al-Sharafa, 59, said he ignored these threats. Because, like many in Gaza, “There’s nothing to lose.”

Now he runs a makeshift stand selling candies and snacks to his kids.

Previously he said: “I was once a famous clothing merchant. In Telhawa, Gaza city, there were large shops, six-storey buildings, cars and a warehouse of stock. All of these years’ efforts were vanished and destroyed by the war.

“Every place you see is destruction, ruin, misery. Is there anything left to us to grieve?

“Trump or anyone, that doesn’t make a difference.”

They moved south during the war and after a ceasefire began, Arsharafa and his family returned north.

“Even if we hand over the prisoners of war, nothing will change. War may always return under the new pretext they have come up with. We have lost trust in the whole world.”

“Is Gaza the root of the world’s problems?”

Jamila Mahmoud, 62, had not heard Trump’s exact words, but some of her family discussed it Thursday morning.

“As you can see, we are completely shut off from everything. We don’t have the internet, no electricity or any means of communication,” she said.

Mahmoud believes Trump’s threat is part of a psychological warfare aimed at banishing people from Gaza.

“Every time there is a new scenario. Sometimes it’s about forced displacement. Sometimes Israel takes over Gaza. And today it’s a threat to all Gaza residents to prisoners.”

“Did Gaza suddenly become the source of world problems?” she asked.

Mahmoud insists that no matter what happens, she will never give up on her right to live in her hometown of Gaza.

“Even if it’s a tiled bleach in my house, no matter what, I will stay on my own land,” she asserted.

“No one is standing by us.”

Ayman Abu Dya, who returns home with some groceries for his family, told Al Jazeera that he wants Hamas to prioritize the public interest now – he hopes to accept the deal, negotiate and hand over the prisoners of war so that this endless nightmare can finally end.

“This is the only reasonable option… our position is weak and no one is standing by us,” the 60-year-old added.

However, he doubts that passing the prisoners would not end the war between Trump and Israel, which may not devastating future wars.

“I think Americans will reject these threats. They won’t accept their country leading another war of genocide,” Abu Dyya said.

“We lost 50,000 people. Two of my sons were killed in this war – in October and December 2023, two young men of their prime minister. I lost my home too. We had enough losses and suffering,” he added.

“The Arab countries are silent, and the Europeans are silent. How can we continue to fight without supporters? We will be the only victims.”

“Leave us alone.”

Wael Abu Ahmed, 75, from Sheikh Radwan in northern Gaza city, said he was surprised by Trump’s threat.

“What did you leave in Gaza? We witnessed fear in this war – are they doing enough?” he asked, sitting on the curb by the roadside.

“Trump’s statement has no weight or value. I think he’s just putting a threat to putting pressure on Hamas. The only thing they have left to do is wipe us out completely,” he added.

Ahmed, a retired bureaucrat and father of five, lives in an apartment with his children and grandchildren after the house was repeatedly targeted during the Israeli war.

He refused to evacuate south and stayed in northern Gaza with his family until the ceasefire.

“I lived for years more than I left. I stayed at home and said, ‘I’m going to die here.’

“Leave us alone. Let’s face the disaster that has fallen upon us. Everything I have left to say,” he left and walked away.