Deir el-Balah, Gaza – After a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in Gaza on Sunday, marking a pause in one of the region’s most devastating wars, residents are now navigating a mix of relief and disbelief.
As the skies finally fall silent after months of relentless Israeli attacks, people are returning to their devastated neighborhoods, facing the immense challenges of rebuilding lives torn apart by the 15-month war.
Displaced residents sheltering in makeshift camps in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza spoke to Tel Aviv Tribune to share their mixed emotions, losses, and hopes and fears for the future.
Hamza al-Ramlawi, 70, from Tal al-Hawa, Gaza City
“We are very happy and relieved that a ceasefire agreement has finally been reached,” al-Ramlawi said.
“The sorrow will remain in our hearts. We will remember those we have lost among our family and loved ones. There is joy that we are coming back, but it is a joy filled with loss and sorrow.
“I will remember my son Mohammed, whom I lost in a bomb attack near our tent in az-Zawayda, in central Gaza. His loss is as vast as the universe.
“For us, we spend our days with peace of mind now that the bloodshed has finally stopped.
“This is the first night that we have slept peacefully and stably. Every night during the war, we slept in fear of any strike that might target us.
“We have had enough wars. I hope both sides calm down and let people live their lives.
“We hope this truce will last. We cannot bear this great battle that has turned our lives into disaster.
“I would be lying if I said I would return home to the North happily after losing my son. Let me stay silent.
Suleiman Abdel Qader, 74 years old, resident of Deir el-Balah
“We thank God that the war was finally stopped. I hope that all the displaced people will be able to return home soon,” said Abdel Qader.
“People are miserable and have lost so much. Some of our loved ones are still buried under the rubble, others are missing.
“I am still angry with the European world and America because they did not put enough pressure at the start of these 15 months of war.
“It was a great suffering that every individual in Gaza endured.
“I hope that people will heal from their wounds, that the injured will find care, and that those who have lost loved ones will find comfort.
“We hope that the ceasefire will continue, despite my many fears, because Israel is not keeping its promises. »
Samah Shalail, 44, mother of five, from Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza:
“The first day of the ceasefire was strange. Some people were celebrating and happy, while others were crying and remembering their loved ones killed in this war,” Shalail said.
“This is the first night that we have slept peacefully, knowing at ease that the bloodshed will stop, that we will return to our lands and that we are about to start a new life.
“The Palestinian people are full of hope and determined to continue.
“At the start of the ceasefire announcement, I felt cautiously optimistic. But when the prisoner exchanges began and the planes disappeared from the sky, I began to feel some relief.
“The heart is always hurt. We cannot talk about joy and happiness, but there is psychological relief. We are still afraid of the obstacles that await us. The country was completely devastated.
“I expect the ceasefire to last as long as there are agreements for the release of prisoners and hostages.
“I am excited about the period to come, that life will resume. I want my children to return to their school desks.
Soheila Hazem, 65, from Deir el-Balah:
“The feeling of the ceasefire is indescribable,” Hazem said. “We are still deeply affected and pained by the war.
“I lost my son Hatem, 30 years old, father of three daughters, last June in a bomb attack in Deir el-Balah. My sister also lost her only son, my brother lost his son and other family members. No one was spared from the loss. We have all endured great suffering in this war.
“We finally slept our long nights after such a long absence. We couldn’t sleep because of the bombings and the fear. If the bombings were not aimed at us, they would target my neighbor, my family or people we know elsewhere. Every night, when darkness fell, worry and fear also appeared.
“We are all one family in this war and our wounds are shared. We waited until the end of the war to learn the fate of those with whom we had lost contact due to communications breakdowns.
“Things are easier now for us. We feel great relief and hope that international efforts will continue to stabilize the truce.
“Everyone needs to know that this is our land and it is our right to live there. We ask God to compensate us for what we have lost.
“I have no plans. I just want to live normally and with stability.
