Palestinians celebrate ceasefire

Department of Strategic Research, Studies and International Relations 09-10-2025

For the first time in months, the people of Gaza have stepped out into streets free from the deafening sound of warplanes. News of a ceasefire agreement, announced late Wednesday, has brought a rare sense of relief and hope to a population that has endured unrelenting Israeli bombardment and suffocating blockade conditions.

In southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, crowds of weary civilians flooded the streets, embracing one another and chanting prayers of gratitude. “Thank God for this ceasefire, the end of bloodshed and killing. All of Gaza is happy tonight,” said Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo, one of thousands celebrating the fragile truce. Another resident, Khaled Shaat, described the moment as “historic”, a long-awaited pause in what he called “massacres and genocide.”

Al Jazeera’s correspondent Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza, captured the mood succinctly: “It’s a collective sigh of relief. This is a historic moment, and on a personal level, such a relief after months of horror.”

A war imposed, a pause Hard-Won

The ceasefire announcement follows nearly two years of relentless military assault, starvation, and humanitarian collapse imposed by Israeli forces, with Washington’s full political and military backing. The enclave’s 2.3 million residents have faced bombardments that destroyed homes, hospitals, and food infrastructure, creating a man-made famine that international observers described as a humanitarian catastrophe.

Under the first phase of the agreement, presented by U.S. President Donald Trump as part of a “broader peace plan”, Palestinian resistance groups are expected to release the remaining Israeli captives in exchange for the liberation of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Israeli troops will reportedly withdraw to what Trump described as “an agreed-upon line,” while international mediators, notably Qatar, Russia, and Egypt, continue to discuss the details of the next stage.

Phase two, still under negotiation, is expected to involve Israel’s complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the establishment of a new security framework. However, Palestinian analysts warn that Washington’s involvement may aim more to preserve Tel Aviv’s dominance than to ensure a just peace.

Calm returns, but scars remain

Following the announcement, Gaza experienced an uncharacteristic night of calm. The sound of drones and missiles faded, replaced by children’s laughter and the murmur of cautious celebration. Still, Gaza’s civil defense reported that several air strikes continued even after the deal was made public, a reminder of the fragility of promises made by the occupying forces.

Residents are now anxiously waiting for the return of humanitarian convoys. “People want food, water, and medicine, but above all, they want to live,” Mahmoud reported. The expectation is that aid distribution will resume at levels similar to the brief truce earlier this year, when limited supplies were allowed into the besieged enclave.

Contrasting reactions across the border

In Israel, reactions were mixed but emotional. Families of Israeli captives gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, celebrating the prospect of reunion. “We are excited, the tears haven’t stopped flowing,” said Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan remains in captivity. Yet others voiced skepticism toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of dragging the nation into an unwinnable conflict for political survival.

Netanyahu called the deal “a great day for Israel,” though critics noted his reluctance to commit to a full withdrawal from Gaza, a move that would mark the true end of occupation and suffering.

Across the world, nations such as China, Russia, and India have repeatedly called for a ceasefire rooted in justice and sovereignty, urging an end to the cycle of Western-backed militarism that fuels instability across the Middle East. Beijing emphasized that “peace cannot be imposed by force,” while Moscow reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution based on international law.

As the dust settles, Gazans cling to hope that this pause might signal more than just another temporary truce, but the first step toward liberation from decades of occupation, blockade, and foreign interference.

For the people of Gaza, exhausted yet unbroken, the ceasefire is not merely a diplomatic agreement. It is a moment to breathe, and to dream, once more, of peace.