Joy, sadness and hope: Mixed emotions for Gazans over ceasefire

In the streets of the Gaza Strip, which are filled with destruction and deep psychological wounds, mixed feelings of joy, sadness and hope spread among Palestinians after the announcement of a ceasefire agreement to end Israel’s 15-month genocidal war. 

It was a rare moment in the besieged coastal enclave that has witnessed months of unprecedented killing, destruction and bloodshed by Israel. 

Many eyes were filled to the brim with tears, some due to joy at the announcement of the long-awaited ceasefire agreement, and others trying to ease the pain from heavy losses they had suffered.

‘Israel destroyed everything in our lives’

Akaber Mahdi, a displaced Palestinian woman, rushed with her five children to the streets to join others celebrating the ceasefire in Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza.

“We are not celebrating because we are happy, but at least we have got rid of the fear and terror due to the ongoing killing that does not differentiate between anyone,” the 33-year-old young woman remarked to The New Arab, while standing next to a house destroyed by the Israeli army. 

“Israel destroyed everything in our lives. But with the ceasefire, we have time to grieve and mourn our loss and to cry over our loved ones who were killed in cold blood by the Israeli army,” she added.

“Today, when I heard that the war would end, I felt a sense of relief, but I could not be completely happy. How can I forget those horrible moments? How can I forget that I lost my home? And that I lost part of my family in the bombing?” Samira al-Ghoul, another Palestinian woman, said to TNA, while congratulating her neighbours on their safety.

In Gaza, there was a deep sense of relief that the killing will stop and that the blood of the Palestinians will be spared, but they were also filled with pain and regret.

“I cannot forget the long days and months that I spent with my children without even being able to alleviate their fear of death because we were all exposed to being killed at any moment,” Samira said.

“Yes, I am grateful for this agreement, but I cannot forget those who left, and I cannot forget the destruction that befell my home,” she added.

Amir Al-Ashi, from Gaza City, also rushed to the street with his brother to join the celebrations. The Israeli army destroyed al-Ashi’s house a year ago, killing more than 35 members of his family.

“I feel joy, sadness, oppression, pain and anger all at the same time. Yes, the war is over, but our hearts are still heavy with worries. I cannot describe to you how we feel,” he lamented. 

“We have lost everything. I wanted my mother, my brothers and my relatives to be alive, but all I have left is my brother so we can suffer the pain forever,” he said.

“What about the future? Will we return to this hell again?” al-Ashi asked. “We need real guarantees; we need guarantees that we will not return to living in darkness and fear. War taught us peace does not come easily, and we hope this time will be different.” 

Despite ceasefire announcement, Israel kills 40 overnight

On Wednesday, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani announced that Hamas and Israel had reached a ceasefire agreement. 

Al-Thani said in a press conference held in Doha, which hosted the ceasefire talks, that the deal will be implemented this Sunday.

According to al-Thani, the agreement will be in three stages, including the first stage, which will last for 42 days, a cessation of military operations between the two parties, the release of 33 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas, and the return of internally displaced persons to their places of residence.

The details of the second and third stages will be finalised during the implementation of the first stage. 

Hamas described the ceasefire announcement in a statement as “the fruit of the legendary steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their resistance in Gaza.”

Despite the official announcement of the ceasefire, the Israeli army continued to launch airstrikes on various areas of the Gaza Strip, killing of about 40 Palestinians, according to Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Defence.

“It seems that the occupation army does not want the Palestinians to take even a little rest from the systematic killing, as it continues to kill civilians until the last second of the ceasefire comes into effect,” Basal told TNA. 

Mohammed Issa was unable to enjoy his joy at the ceasefire announcement for long because the Israeli army killed him and his four-member family by targeting his house in the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip.

“We do not know what the Israeli army wants from the people and why it continues to kill us in cold blood. My cousin is a civilian and was longing for a ceasefire and for us to return to our lives, but even this hope was killed by the army,” Ahmed Issa, Mohammed’s cousin, said to TNA. 

“We are human beings who have the right to live like the rest of the world’s people: enough killing, enough destruction, enough displacement. We are tired and sick of everything,” he added.