While some Syrians celebrated President Donald Trump's announcement to lift American sanctions, others are expressing deep concerns about an uncertain future and the strengthening position of Damascus ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani.
In an exclusive conversation with Israel Hayom, a resident from the Alawite region in western Syria expressed mixed feelings about the development. "Lifting sanctions might look like a spark of hope and perhaps will bring good things for the exhausted and wounded people who have been worn down by years of war, hunger, and disappointment. But we must also ask ourselves – what is the price? Will we pay with our resources, our land, or our dignity?" the resident said.
These comments come against the backdrop of foreign media reports that al-Sharaa is willing to reach an agreement with the United States regarding resources in the country and security arrangements with Israel. On Thursday, Trump met with al-Sharaa and called on him to join the Abraham Accords with Israel.
"From December 8 until this moment, this homeland has suffered a deep wound in its soul," the Syrian resident said. "Not just from gunfire, but also from hatred and the deep rift between the various communities and residents that the war has left behind. This hostility cannot be healed except through exceptional grace from Allah. Those who lost their sons, their wives, their property, everything dear to them – who will bring them justice? Will the Americans remove their injustice? Will orphans who never knew their parents receive justice?"
He added, "We are happy or at least pretend to be happy that the sanctions have been lifted. But what's the point of happiness if you don't even have a grain of land in your own homeland? What's the point of a hand that shakes the hand of your murderer?" The resident was referring to Syrian ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose forces massacred minorities, especially Alawites and Druze.
"You cannot sell the homeland and you cannot buy dignity. Whoever sold their dignity in the name of the homeland never knew its meaning. So they removed the restrictions, but they imposed a heavier burden on the people for life," he said.
