This story was translated from Azerbaijani by Googleda.info
The Elkord family has been living with hope for the past two years. The family — a Palestinian husband and an Azerbaijani wife — had been living in Gaza for many years. Their lives changed dramatically on October 7, 2023, when the war began.
Mrs. Naila Elkord moved to Gaza in 1992 after marrying Mr. Akram Elkord, who was then a foreign student in Azerbaijan. All three of their daughters were born in Gaza. As the children grew up, they too got married in Gaza.
Since Israel began its military operations in Gaza, the family has been expelled from their home. The husband remains in Gaza. Because it is difficult for her to speak about what they have gone through, Mrs. Elkord declined to be interviewed.
Recently, the Elkord family was brought to the capital city of Azerbaijan in several stages. This became possible after negotiations between the Azerbaijani government and Israel, with the support of the Red Cross.
The middle daughter, 29-year-old Ruslana Elkord, was the last to arrive in Baku. She is a single mother of two who lost her husband in the war.
“My husband was a medical worker in Gaza who helped the wounded. He was killed in an ambulance that was transporting injured people. The vehicle was bombed while he was inside, helping others. His head was severed from his body, and his face was burned as a result of the explosion.”
Jasmin, the youngest daughter, is a professional architect. She also lost her husband during the war. She says that living in Gaza is impossible — there is neither water nor food, and they spent their days hiding in shelters filled with fear and uncertainty.
“We could hardly find food and water. Some days we couldn’t eat anything at all. The children were starving. I lost my husband in the war too. My son keeps asking me, ‘When will Father come back? Call Father so he can talk to me. I want him.’”
Amira, the eldest daughter of the Elkord family, also has two children — Rimas (11) and Ashraf (5). Her husband is still in Gaza. The children lost their grandparents — their father’s parents — in the war, and they are terrified of losing their father as well.
“Part of our family remains in Gaza. My husband is still there, living in a tent. It’s very hard for us without him. My sisters’ husbands were killed in the war. I don’t want my children to lose their father too.”
Each phone call from Amir, Amira’s husband, becomes an unforgettable memory for the children. This time was no different — their tears mixed with both joy and longing.
Although recent news about a possible end to the war brings brief hope, the reality is still grim, says Akram Elkord.
“We are glad about the ceasefire announcement, but the bombardments have not stopped. Gaza is still under attack. Today, all our relatives were killed when their tent was bombed. The situation is still very difficult. We just hope they will stop bombing Gaza eventually.”
Like the Elkord family, thousands of people in Gaza still hope the war will end soon. The possibility seems higher now, as Hamas has reportedly acknowledged Trump’s Gaza peace plan.
Political commentator Alimusa Ibrahimov explains:
“This plan has been accepted by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab countries — and most importantly, by Turkey. All these countries have some influence over Hamas, which is why Hamas has agreed as well. Hamas would face renewed pressure from the U.S. and Israel if it refused to listen to its Arab and Muslim allies.”
Security in the Gaza Strip is expected to be guaranteed internationally after the demilitarization of Hamas. The involvement of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has a strong reputation in the international community, shows how serious Trump is about this issue.
Ibrahimov continues:
“Trump is personally overseeing the process. He will lead the future committee that will prevent Israel from any potential wrongdoing.”
Experts believe that Hamas will no longer play an official role in Gaza’s administration — though its indirect participation cannot be completely ruled out.
But who will provide security in the region? Turkey has been specifically mentioned in this role. A phone call between Trump and President Erdoğan before Hamas’s announcement suggests that Ankara will play a key role in this process. The U.S. President also confirmed that Erdoğan helped pressure Hamas to release Israeli captives — a sign of Turkey’s likely involvement in future peacekeeping efforts. Azerbaijani units could also participate in these missions.
Ibrahimov adds:
“Turkey could be one of the countries to form the peacekeeping forces — whether or not Israel agrees. These forces could be established even without Israel’s consent. It’s also possible that Azerbaijani military units or observers may join this mission.”
However, the peace agreement in Gaza might mark the beginning of a larger regional conflict. Many analysts believe that by pushing for a quick resolution in Gaza, the United States aims to shift attention toward another target — Iran.
“A second attack on Iran remains a real possibility,” Ibrahimov says. “The U.S. is sending ships to the region, which shows preparations for a new war. In my opinion, one reason Netanyahu accepted Trump’s Gaza plan might be to prepare for a future confrontation with Iran.”
Trump’s Gaza plan promises long-lasting peace for the region — but it might also put the Middle East at risk of a new, large-scale war. Is Iran next?