Deir el-Balah, Gaza – After a long-awaited ceasefire agreed by 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.
With the skies finally silent after months of relentless Israeli attacks, people are returning to their battered neighbourhoods facing the immense challenges of rebuilding lives torn apart by the 15-month war.
Displaced residents sheltering in makeshift camps in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, spoke with media to share their mixed emotions, losses, and their hopes and fears for the future.
“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 lost among family and loved ones. There is joy that we will return, but it is joy filled with loss and grief.
“I will remember my son, Mohammed, whom I lost in a bombing near our tent in az-Zawayda in central Gaza. His loss is as vast as the universe.
“For us, we are spending our days with peace of mind now that the bloodshed has finally stopped.
“This is the first night we’ve slept peacefully and stably. Every night during the war, we slept in fear of any strike that could target us.
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