As his friends supported him among the cheering crowds and bullets fired into the air, he spoke of the relief brought by the prospect of peace.
“Now we can sleep comfortably and safely; that’s it, nothing more,” he said.
Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents were forced from their homes during the war, which also destroyed the enclave’s infrastructure and hospitals. It is unclear what the future holds for Gazans if the ceasefire lasts and once the fighting ends – the enclave was under blockade by Israel and Egypt before the war and political solutions to the conflict that decades of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians seem more elusive than ever.
Inside the tent camps of Khan Younis in southern GazaThousands of pairs of eyes were glued to television screens in anticipation of the deal’s announcement Wednesday evening. Celebrations erupted soon after, with people taking to the streets to sing, dance and wave Palestinian flags.
The ceasefire agreement, which would likely come into force on Sunday, while waiting for Israeli approval Cabinetcomes after intense negotiations between and Qatar mediationEgypt and the United States
As part of a three-phase deal, the deal would allow Displaced Palestinians to return home – where they remain – as Israeli forces retreat towards the Gaza border. THE transfer of hostages and the prisoners will also take place as humanitarian aidhospitals and health centers resume their services to civilians.
But the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday it was delaying a cabinet vote, accusing Hamas of reneging on parts of the deal. Hamas says it is “committed” to the truce.
For many people living in the Palestinian enclave, a ceasefire agreement offers not only the prospect of respite from airstrikes, but also the promise of returning home after months of displacement and shelter in makeshift tents inside refugee camps.
“We were waiting for this moment of joy,” said Zafar Abou Alarag in Khan Younis.
But the relief was also tinged with worry as many spoke of rebuilding their homes after more than a year of devastation.
“We have gotten used to the tents and want to return to live,” continued Abou Alarag. “I want to return to my land, I want to build a room with a bathroom because there is no house.”
