The skepticism emerged as Trump chaired the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, DC.

Residents in central and southern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands remain displaced in tents, focused not on diplomatic details but on whether conditions on the ground would improve.

"I’ve heard about money being collected for Gaza, but we see nothing. This has happened many times, but nothing ever changes," said 43-year-old Amal Joudeh, a mother of eight living in a tent in Deir el-Balah after displacement from Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza.

Joudeh, whose home was destroyed and whose husband and children were injured, called for any form of support or reconstruction.

At the Washington meeting, Trump announced that nine member nations had pledged $7 billion to a Gaza reconstruction fund.

He added that five countries agreed to contribute troops to an "International Stabilization Force" for the territory.

Trump also stated that the United States would contribute $10 billion to the Board of Peace, without specifying the funds' intended use.

These pledges fall significantly short of United Nations estimates, which place the cost of rebuilding Gaza at up to $70 billion after more than two years of widespread destruction from Israeli bombardment.

The fragile ceasefire brokered by Trump and implemented in October last year has brought limited relief.

Most Palestinians continue to struggle to feed their families amid near-total collapse of health, education, and sanitation services.

Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that more than 600 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire since the truce began.

The overall death toll from the conflict exceeds 72,000, according to official Palestinian statistics.

"Israel kills, bombs, violates the ceasefire agreement daily and expands the buffer zone without anyone stopping it," said Awad al-Ghoul, a 70-year-old displaced from Tal as-Sultan in Rafah and now living in a tent in az-Zawayda.

Al-Ghoul questioned the board's effectiveness, asking how a body of its size could enforce peace in Gaza, let alone resolve broader global conflicts as Trump has suggested.

Many Gazans expressed distrust toward the announced funds, citing past unfulfilled donor promises.

Al-Ghoul predicted that only a small portion would reach Gaza, with much diverted to administrative costs and high salaries.

"So this project is a failure from the start and unclear in vision, like the failure of the aid distribution foundation established by America a year ago, which became death traps for thousands."

Jamal Abu Makhdeh, 66, from Deir el-Balah, dismissed the initiative outright.

"They won’t do anything for Gaza. It’s all lies," he said. "Anything Israel agrees to certainly won’t be in our interest."

Abu Makhdeh described the Board of Peace as a tool for Trump and Israel to impose decisions through power and control, ignoring weaker nations.

He noted repeated discussions of reconstruction plans after prior ceasefires, all undermined by Israeli restrictions on construction materials.

"Even if the board decides to rebuild Gaza, this is unlikely and won’t happen. We’ve heard this many times and nothing happened."

Abu Makhdeh expressed particular concern over Israel’s membership in the board and demands to disarm Hamas under the truce terms.

"Their main goal is to disarm Hamas so that we drown in internal and civil disputes," he said.

He viewed peace rhetoric as deceptive amid ongoing issues in the occupied West Bank, including home demolitions, settlement growth, and restrictions.

"There is no optimism in American decisions. This is just media talk."

Al-Ghoul voiced cautious hope for an international peacekeeping force in Gaza.

"Personally, I hope this force is sent, but it must act as a deterrent to Israel’s continued attacks, like UNIFIL in Lebanon. I don’t imagine Israel would attack a force imposed by a Board of Peace managed by Trump," he said.

The board's announcements emphasized stability and peace but omitted specific decisions on Gaza's reconstruction or damaged infrastructure.

For al-Ghoul, rebuilding held little value without an end to truce violations.

"Reconstruction has no value if Israel’s hand continues destroying and killing. What’s the point of rebuilding while Israel destroys?"

Joudeh hoped for gradual improvements, including reopened schools, children returning to education, and families moving from tents to permanent homes.

Across Gaza, residents' core demands remained straightforward: safety, peace, and the ability to return home.

"My demand is to return to my neighborhood in Rafah, which has been occupied for a year and a half … even if in a tent," al-Ghoul said.

"What matters is that the army withdraws and we return to our places."

Abu Makhdeh called for justice and basic mercy.

"We are exhausted. They must show mercy. We demand what is good for our people, to live in peace and be granted a simple life with our basic right to safety."