On January 15th, Israeli officials and Hamas have announced that they have come to an agreement for a cease-fire and a release but first, before any of that happens the Israeli cabinet must vote on it and it seems unlikely that it would happen on the 16th due to delays. But hopes are high for the vote to be finished by the end of this weekend as well. The Israeli prime minister has to ratify it which won’t be able to happen until Friday.
While this was announced on the 15th, Israel still called in airstrikes to strike Gaza killing 50+ innocents and even though the cease-fire agreed to go into effect on Sunday this is clearly still a warzone until then and both Israel and Hamas have intensified military efforts. On both sides, they are feeling even more war and destruction, and many Palestinians on the 15th went to sleep thinking that the war effort would slow down before Sunday or at least the vote to approve the cease-fire would have been completed but it’s still being delayed.
Palestinian man Karam Moeiliq gave his thoughts about the delay and the announcement news and how it affected the people “We went to sleep happy. It’s a shame that they would have deprived us of this happiness.” He said, “Everyone has losses. It’s enough.” And people all around Deir al-Balah are feeling worried about their futures tonight as a deal must be secured so they could return to their normal lives and start rebuilding Another Palestinian man named Omar Jendiya from Gaza City spoke about this matter, “We ask our brothers in Hamas to communicate with mediators to end the war. Enough with the destruction and killing.” This amplifies what the people want and what they need.
Since January 15th, Israel has come out and said that they have launched 50 airstrikes in 1 day since the announcement killing up to 72 people while targeting weapons storage facilities, military infrastructure, and rocket launch sites and all around the world Israel is feeling the pressure to stop attacking and to start negotiating peace.
On January 20th after months of hardship, struggle, and negotiation 3 Israeli hostages were released from Hamas capture and 90 Palestinians and dozens of Hamas prisoners were released from Israeli prison as the ceasefire took place on Sunday January 19th.
And because of the ceasefire for the first time in at least 12 months, the sky above the Gaza strip has been silent without shell fire and gun sounds causing Palestinian refugees who have taken shelter in other parts of the Middle East have started to return home including Israeli refugees and said refugees have started to begin a new era on the strip, rebuilding and assisting the injured and starving, and as temporary peace reached the strip hopes are high for an end to the war and new beginnings.
