Written by Lisa Murimi
For the first time in two years, the skies over Gaza and Israel filled not with missiles, but with shouts of joy and tears of relief.
After months of relentless bloodshed that claimed more than 67,000 Palestinian lives and left Israeli families shattered by loss and fear, a ceasefire deal has finally been reached — a fragile bridge toward peace.
The truce, announced under the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the Gaza war, was met with scenes of jubilation on both sides of the border.
Streets once filled with dust and rubble echoed with cries of “Allahu Akbar” and “Peace at last,” as weary Gazans emerged from shattered homes to embrace neighbors they had not seen in weeks.
“Thank God for the ceasefire, the end of bloodshed and killing,” said Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo from Khan Younis, his face streaked with tears and dust.
“All of Gaza is happy — all the Arab world is happy — because the killing has stopped.”
Under the agreement, Israel will begin a partial withdrawal from Gaza within 24 hours of signing, while Hamas is set to release the remaining 20 Israeli hostages.
In return, Israel will free several Palestinian prisoners. Though fighting continued sporadically as news spread, the ceasefire marks the most significant step toward peace since the devastating war began in 2023.
In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, where families of the abducted have gathered for months, the mood was electric. Einav Zaugauker, whose son Matan was among those held captive, broke down in tears as she clutched a flare.
“I can’t breathe,” she said. “All I want is to hold him again — to see his eyes and tell him I love him.”
The deal has been hailed as a diplomatic victory for President Trump, who described it as “a great day for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel, and all nations seeking peace.”
Leaders from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, who helped mediate the accord, called it a vital first step toward rebuilding trust.
Yet amid the celebrations, questions remain. Who will govern Gaza when the guns fall silent? For now, though, amid the ruins and the rubble, hope flickers again — a fragile light in a region long darkened by war.
