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THERE’S BEEN CELEBRATIONS across Israel and Palestine today after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal.
The agreement, announced overnight by US President Donald Trump, could see Israel’s withdrawal from parts of the territory and the freeing of the remaining living hostages held by Hamas within days.
It also calls for Israel to release hundreds of Palestinians and increase aid into Gaza.
The ceasefire will come into effect on the ground after Israel’s security cabinet formally approve it – a move expected to happen later today.
In Tel Aviv, people rushed to Hostages Square to celebrate the return of the anticipated return of the hostages, while children and adults took to the streets of Gaza in their hundreds to celebrate.
Displaced Gazan Samer Joudeh welcomed the end of two years of war.
“Honestly, when I heard the news, I couldn’t hold back. Tears of joy flowed. Two years of bombing, terror, destruction, loss, humiliation, and the constant feeling that we could die at any moment,” he told AFP.
“Now, we finally feel like we’re getting a moment of respite.”
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said it was ready to flood Gaza with desperately-needed food.
“We have enough to provide food for the entire population for the coming three months,” the agency’s chief Philippe Lazzarini said on X.
A daily minimum of 400 trucks of aid is expected to enter the Gaza Strip for the first five days of the ceasefire, to be increased in following days.
In Tel Aviv, many wore stickers reading “They’re coming back”, waving Israeli and US flags and clutching photos of the hostages.
“We have been waiting for this day for 734 days. We cannot imagine being anywhere else this morning,” said Laurence Ytzhak, a Tel Aviv resident.
“It’s a great joy — an immense relief mixed with anxiety, fear and sorrow for the families who haven’t and won’t get to experience this joy.
“As I speak to you, I get goosebumps… It’s too beautiful, and we cannot help but think of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for these hostages.”
- With reporting from AFP
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