Palestinians in Gaza followed the latest effort to stop the war there and release the hostages with a mix of anticipation, cautious optimism and skepticism as Israeli and Hamas officials were meeting for indirect negotiations in Egypt.

“We hope the delegation traveling to Sharm el-Sheikh will end this war. For two years we have been in ruins, with people displaced in the streets,” said Wadea al-Rass, displaced from Shati Refugee camp in northern Gaza.

Others are skeptical.

“There is not one percent hope because they gave us hope before and said there would be a truce and then the truce was ruined,” said Nabila Shunnar, displaced from Gaza City.

The latest talks were starting on the eve of the second anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war.

Israel’s offensive in Gaza, launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

The war caused vast destruction, displacement and devastation in Gaza, forcing weary families to repeatedly move and giving rise to images of children hollowed out by hunger.

Explosions and clouds of smoke were seen across the Gaza Strip on Monday as Israel continued to pound the embattled enclave.

This latest push for peace comes after Hamas accepted some elements of the U.S. peace plan, a move welcomed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Israel has said it supported the new U.S. effort. Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages — about 20 believed to be alive — within three days.

Trump has said he thinks Hamas is ready for a “lasting peace” and has told Israel to stop bombing the territory but warned that “all bets will be off” if Hamas doesn’t move quickly.