Palestinians in Gaza have celebrated the agreement of a ceasefire and hostage release deal - but many fear confronting the grief that has built up over two years of war. This morning, when we heard the news about the truce, it brought both joy and pain, 38-year-old Umm Hassan, who lost his 16-year-old son during the war, told the BBC. Out of joy, both the young and the old began shouting, he said. And those who had lost loved ones started remembering them and wondering how we would return home without them.
Every person who lost someone feels that sorrow deeply and wonders how they'll return home, he added. The agreement announced by US President Donald Trump, which still must be accepted by Israel's security cabinet, will see the release of 20 living hostages and the bodies of 28 dead hostages in return for 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails and 1,700 detainees from Gaza. It is the first phase of a 20-point peace plan that could lead to an end to the war, though the latter phases still need to be negotiated.
As the community struggles with the duality of celebration and mourning, individuals like Daniel Abu Tabeekh lament the ongoing suffering of civilians, stating, We, the civilians, are the ones who've suffered - truly suffered... I've been living on the streets for a year and a half. Israel's offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 67,000 Palestinians, a figure acknowledged by various international bodies.
Despite the potential for peace, the memories of lost loved ones loom large among the celebrations. Umm Nader Kloub, who has lost seven relatives, emphasized, God willing, he will help [the negotiators] and allow us all to return to our homes, and for their hostages to return safely. We don't want war. - expressing a shared hope among many for a lasting peace amid the unresolved grief of the community.
Every person who lost someone feels that sorrow deeply and wonders how they'll return home, he added. The agreement announced by US President Donald Trump, which still must be accepted by Israel's security cabinet, will see the release of 20 living hostages and the bodies of 28 dead hostages in return for 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails and 1,700 detainees from Gaza. It is the first phase of a 20-point peace plan that could lead to an end to the war, though the latter phases still need to be negotiated.
As the community struggles with the duality of celebration and mourning, individuals like Daniel Abu Tabeekh lament the ongoing suffering of civilians, stating, We, the civilians, are the ones who've suffered - truly suffered... I've been living on the streets for a year and a half. Israel's offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 67,000 Palestinians, a figure acknowledged by various international bodies.
Despite the potential for peace, the memories of lost loved ones loom large among the celebrations. Umm Nader Kloub, who has lost seven relatives, emphasized, God willing, he will help [the negotiators] and allow us all to return to our homes, and for their hostages to return safely. We don't want war. - expressing a shared hope among many for a lasting peace amid the unresolved grief of the community.
