Nidal al-Mughrabi and Mohammad Salem
CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) – Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets across Gaza after a truce between Israel and Hamas began on Sunday, some in celebration, others to visit the graves of relatives, while many hurried back to their homes.
“I feel like I finally found some drinking water after being lost in the desert for 15 months. I feel alive again,” Aya, a displaced woman from Gaza City, who took refuge in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip for over a year, he told Reuters via a chat app.
Armed Hamas fighters drove through the southern city of Khan Younis, cheered and chanted by crowds, despite a nearly three-hour delay in implementing the deal, which followed 15 months of devastating conflict.
Hamas officers, dressed in blue police uniforms, have been deployed in some areas after months of trying to stay out of sight to avoid Israeli airstrikes.
People who had gathered to cheer the fighters chanted “Hail to the Al-Qassam Brigades”.
“All the resistance factions remain despite (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu,” one fighter told Reuters, referring to the armed wing of Hamas.
“This is a cease-fire, complete and comprehensive God willing, and there will be no return to war in spite of it.”
The ceasefire agreement came into force after a delay of almost three hours, halting a war that has brought major political changes to the Middle East and giving hope to Gaza’s 2.3 million people, many of whom have been displaced several times.
The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said Israeli military strikes killed at least 13 people in attacks across the enclave during the reprieve. There were no more reported attacks after it took effect at 11:15 a.m. (09:15 GMT).
“Now we are waiting for the day when we can go back home to Gaza,” Aya said. – Damaged or not, it doesn’t matter, the nightmare of death and hunger is over.
Ahmed Abu Ayham, 40, displaced with his family from Gaza City and taking refuge in Khan Younis, said the scene of destruction in his hometown was “horrific”, adding that while the ceasefire may have spared lives, it was no time for celebration.
“We are in pain, deep pain and it’s time to hug each other and cry,” Abu Ayham said via the same app.
The long-awaited ceasefire deal could help end the war in Gaza, which began after Hamas, which controls the tiny coastal territory, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, according to Israeli authorities.
The Israeli response reduced much of Gaza to rubble and killed nearly 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
“The war is over, but life will not be better because of the destruction and losses we have suffered,” Aya said. – But at least there will be no more bloodshed for women and children, I hope.
(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi, additional reporting by Mohammad Salem in Gaza; Editing by Philipp Fletcher)
