Speaking to a crowd gathered Thursday in “Little Palestine,” Deanna Othman said she was cautiously welcoming the ceasefire agreement that could end the deadly two-year war in Gaza but remained skeptical that Israel will follow through with its promises.
“President [Donald] Trump must honor his commitment to securing a permanent ceasefire and must not allow the Israeli government to manipulate him yet again,” said Othman, an organizer with the Chicago chapter of American Muslims for Palestine, referencing past efforts to reach a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
It was a sentiment many others around Chicago and in suburban Bridgeview shared as the Israeli government approved an outline of the deal. On Wednesday, Trump said Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of his peace plan to pause fighting and release the remaining hostages in exchange for some prisoners.
On Thursday afternoon, several dozen people flowed into a rally organized by the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine in suburban Bridgeview. Cook County is home to more Palestinians than any other county across the United States, a WBEZ analysis previously determined.
Rania Salem, 29, of Orland Park, said she welcomes any agreement that would bring “any sense of safety and security” to the people in Gaza and prays for the ceasefire to hold, allowing the rebuilding of Gaza.
But she said only a deal that includes the release of all Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza would be adequate.
Under the current agreement, Hamas will release all living Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, while the Israeli military will withdraw from the majority of Gaza. But many questions, including whether Hamas will disarm and who will govern Gaza, remain.
Salem, who is from Bethlehem, a city in the West Bank, said she will continue to fight for the liberation of all of Palestine. She said a friend of hers who lives in Gaza continues to see “the absolute worst” conditions.
“They are starving, and the bombs are relentless,” she said.
For Chicago’s Jewish community, the agreement has brought much relief and hope — even as it comes with some trepidation — said Dan Goldwin, spokesperson for the Chicago-based Jewish United Fund.
“The fighting is over, the hostages are coming home. Those that are dead can be buried appropriately. Their families can mourn,” Goldwin said. “That’s what we’ve been wanting since this whole thing started.”
Goldwin said he’s hopeful that the agreement will lead to long-term peace, allowing Israelis to live safely and Palestinians to live “in a Gaza that is not under the boot of” Hamas.
He said he also hopes the agreement will lead to a more “peaceful and respectful” Chicago, noting the surge in antisemitism in the city.
The war was sparked by the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas and other militants that killed 1,200 people, most of them Israeli civilians. About 250 hostages were taken and an estimated 48 people have remained in captivity.
Since then, Israel has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and nearly all of the population that had lived in Gaza has been displaced.