‘Glimmer of hope in a cycle of death’: Families in Gaza pray ceasefire brings an end to devastation
Families in Gaza described Sunday’s ceasefire with Israel as a “glimmer of light in a cycle of death” as they celebrated what they hope marks the end of the ferocious bombardment of the strip, which has killed over 46,000 people.
As the long-awaited truce between Hamas and Israel came into effect at 11am Sunday, families were filmed travelling on foot, in donkey carts, and cars through wastelands of destruction, many searching for the remains of their homes.
In other clips shared online, Palestinian journalists removed their body armour live on air for the first time. Crowds chanted, sang, and whistled in the background.
Many hope the truce, brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, will herald the permanent end of the conflict that has ravaged Gaza and will secure the release of nearly 100 hostages abducted from Israel during Hamas’ attack on 7 October 2023.
In Gaza, one of the most densely populated places on earth, Israel’s bombardment has killed over 46,000 people, including at least 14,500 children, according to the local health ministry. It has displaced 90 per cent of the more than two million residents and destroyed nearly 70 per cent of all buildings, according to the United Nations.
A spokesperson for the UN’s child agency told The Independent that the truce was a “critical first step” to stop the killing of Gaza’s civilians and to bring hostages home, but emphasised that the scale of destruction in the strip meant it was “insufficient to address the deep suffering”.
“We need the operational environment inside Gaza to considerably improve, which is going to be challenging,” she said, adding that there needed to be unfettered transport of aid.
Civilians, many of whom have been displaced more than five times and have lost countless family members, told The Independent that this ceasefire was a “glimmer of light” but just the beginning of a long process of rehabilitation and reconstruction.
“You are talking about people whose past has been erased, and every horizon of the near future has been wiped away,” said Essam Raja, 38, who was forced to flee his home in northern Gaza. He is now living in a tent in the so-called humanitarian zone of al-Mawasi, which was bombed before the ceasefire came into effect on Sunday.
“Everything we have has faced massive destruction and damage,” he said. “For the near future, everything is completely destroyed.
“There is a mix of conflicting emotions: joy and relief at the end of the tragedy, and sadness over the loss of loved ones, relatives, and friends.”
Mohamed, 44, who was also displaced to al-Mawasi from Gaza City said he hoped the ceasefire would “restore people’s confidence that there is a glimmer of hope to escape the cycle of death we’ve endured since 7 October.”
“Right now, we live a life of misery in every sense of the word,” he told The Independent. “People are looking forward to a better future – a safe and prosperous life, away from the sound of planes, cannons, and bombs, so that our children can feel safe and secure.”
The 42-day first phase of the ceasefire should see the release of 33 hostages seized by Hamas militants during their bloody 7 October assault on Israel, during which they also killed over 1200 people. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli prison, including dozens of women and children, are expected to be released with Palestinian media releasing details of 90 people slated to be free on Sunday.
