Palestinians burst into celebration across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement to end Israel’s 15-month genocidal war, with some shedding tears of joy, and others whistling, clapping, and chanting “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is great).
The ceasefire agreement followed intensified efforts from mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States, after months of fruitless negotiations to end the deadliest war in Gaza’s history.
Israel’s security cabinet approved the deal on Friday, and it is now set to go to the full cabinet for approval before hoped implementation on Sunday which will see the exchange of 33 Israeli captives for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, after which the terms of a permanent end to the war would be finalised.
What lies ahead for Palestinians in Gaza?
The New Arab spoke with people about their feelings after the announcement of the ceasefire and about their expectations of what’s coming ahead.
Those in Gaza have spoken of their joy and relief, but also their sadness and worry as they mourn killed loved ones, and begin rebuilding the territory after more than a year of devastation.
“I was so happy when I heard the news; I couldn’t stop crying,” said Kawtahr Al Masri, a grandmother displaced with her family.
Beginning on January 19, a ceasefire will be rolled out in three stages, allowing a large number of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes and communities.
Kawtahr Al Masri and her family will finally return to the north after being displaced for over 15 months. “We have been suffering from unbearable conditions,” said Kawtahr, who added, “We have lived in one room in our relative’s home. Then, we were forced to live in cramped tents in the south.”
Kawtahr reflected on her feelings, saying, “I can’t wait to return to the north; however, there’s no home to go to.”
Many families, like Kawtahr’s, have lost not only their homes but a sense of security and stability.
‘There is no home to go to’
When the ceasefire was officially announced, people in Gaza started singing and shouting in joy. However, many families are now asking where they can go after losing their homes.
Kawtahr expressed the mix of emotions that many people are experiencing. “These tears are mixed with happiness and sorrow. When we go back, we will not find our homes as they are destroyed, but we are happy that this genocide will end, and the bloodshed will stop,” she said.
The New Arab witnessed the tears of grieving families. Many started to mourn those they lost. “Our joy is not complete as we have lost many beloved people. Once I heard the announcement of the ceasefire deal, I started crying,” shared Afnan Mosa, who lost her husband and relatives in the conflict.
Afnan spoke about the emotional toll that the conflict has taken on her family, saying, “I have young kids who are alive, and I think of them all the time.” She also reflected on her husband’s sacrifice, saying, “I wished he would be with us today. We miss him a lot. The first thing I will do once it comes into effect is to visit his grave.”
Despite the emotional pain that Afnan and her family are experiencing, she still sees the ceasefire as a positive development. “While this ceasefire would not bring my husband back, at least it may save other lives,” she said. Afnan’s hope that the ceasefire will lead to a safer future for her children is a sentiment shared by many other families in Gaza.
‘Finally, I can sleep without bombs’
The announcement of the ceasefire brought a unique kind of happiness for children who have been eagerly waiting for it.
“I can’t believe we have survived all of this. Is it really over?” asked 18-year-old Tasneem Ladaa, displaced and living in a school. Tasneem’s family was forced to flee their home after it was destroyed in the conflict.
Tasneem’s excitement about the possibility of returning home is palpable. “The first thing I will do once the ceasefire comes into effect is to go back to our home in the north,” she said with hope. “I want to run in the streets of Gaza until I reach home. I want to enter my bedroom, which is what I missed the most. I want to see my bed, my closets, the window overlooking the green trees,” she said.
Tasneem isn’t the only child looking forward to returning home. Ten-year-old Jana exclaimed, “I am so happy. Finally, I will be able to sleep without hearing the sounds of bombs.”
Nearby, 13-year-old Yousef Hamda said, “We will now be able to play in the streets as before. We will run and play football without being fearful of sudden bombs.”
Shereen Tareefi, also displaced in the school, reflected on her experience saying, “These moments are moments of happiness and sadness, shock and joy, but certainly, we must cry and cry long because of what we all lost. We did not lose friends, relatives, and homes only; we lost our city.”
Perpetual anxiety
“I was worried and afraid before the ceasefire announcement. I was afraid of losing people I love and afraid it would not succeed as in previous times,” said Saeed Al-Halabi, a father of three.
Saeed’s experience reflects the fear and anxiety that many people in Gaza felt as they waited for the ceasefire announcement.
Sadly, despite numerous earlier ceasefire attempts since Israel’s genocide started in 2023, none were successful.
The devastation has left Gaza suffering immeasurably — more than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed and most of the territory’s 2.3 million prewar population have been displaced.
Gaza has changed dramatically and doesn’t resemble what it once was. The area now feels like a cemetery, with rubble everywhere and the hopes of many who lost their lives vanished.
“Gaza is no longer the same. Everything has been destroyed, and I lost an academic year in my studies,” explained Sama Al Najaar, a university student.
‘It is time the world focuses on rebuilding Gaza’
For the youth, there seem to be no opportunities or security in their future. “I received my bachelor’s degree in interior design two years before this massacre began. I started my career, but all my hopes were dashed when the genocide started. My office was destroyed; there was nothing left,” said Roaa Hashem, a displaced young woman.
Roaa’s story highlights the challenges that many young people in Gaza face as a result of the genocide. Despite their qualifications and skills, they struggle to make a living and build a future for themselves.
Roaa expressed her hope that the ceasefire will lead to a better future for her and her country. “My only wish is the reopening of the crossings. I feel guilty sometimes because I feel that I abandoned my country, but I don’t have any other choices,” she said.
It’s a choice that many young people in Gaza face, and a decision that Roaa said she made reluctantly. “I will have to start again from scratch. I spent years planning and working hard to open my office, but it’s now all in ruins,” she said.
Those we soke to expressed that they now do not care about who will rule them in the future, they only care about living peacefully in their city without fear, without massacres and bloodshed, and wish to return to normal life.
Parents told The New Arab how they hope that their children will get the chance to go back to school, while others shared their hopes for the hospitals to start operating again, for people to be able to move around and travel, and for the injured to get treatment.
Seba Ahmed said, “We are no longer interested in political matters and who will rule Gaza, but we want a fair administration that will rebuild the future of Gaza and restore stability and security because we and the people here are very tired.”
Seba concluded, “It is time the world comes back into Gaza, focuses on Gaza, and rebuilds it.”
Eman Alhaj Ali is a Palestinian freelance journalist, writer, translator, and storyteller based in Gaza with publications on a variety of international and local websites
Follow her on X: @EmanAlhajAli1
