After two years of war and more than 70,000 Palestinians killed in relentless bombardment of Gaza, the ceasefire was announced on Thursday.
Video call after video call filled Thursday morning at the Al Thumama Complex in Doha, where evacuated Palestinians from Gaza are staying. Every call found its way to Gaza.
Palestinians who escaped Israel’s war on Gaza and now reside in Doha rushed to reconnect with loved ones still trapped in the Strip, unable to leave since Israel’s genocidal assault began on October 7, 2023.
After two years of war and more than 70,000 Palestinians killed in relentless bombardment of Gaza, the ceasefire was announced on Thursday.
Hamas and Israel have agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire deal as part of a wider plan to end the two-year war in Gaza.
“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Alhamdulillah” (God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest, Praise be to God) were the first words exchanged between Basan, an 18-year-old Palestinian from Gaza now staying at the Al Thumama Complex in Doha, and her brother in Gaza, Ali, as news of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel broke on Thursday morning.
“When I called my brother, he was overjoyed and told me, word for word: ‘The nightmare is over, and I will see you very soon,’” said Basan, who was evacuated on October 22, 2023, after her home was destroyed and her parents were killed.
Even as the ceasefire brings a moment of relief, the pain of loss remains. “We are very happy that the bloodshed has stopped, but there is still deep sorrow and pain in my heart for losing my family,” said Basan.
Without her family, joy feels incomplete, yet she prays and hopes that the ceasefire will finally end the bloodshed, massacres, and genocide, and bring families back together, at least what is left of them. “Alhamdulillah, the genocide has stopped, and I will finally reunite with my brother, whom I haven’t seen for two years because of it.” she said.
“How many times have I prayed, hoped and called upon my Lord in every prayer for this war to end so that we may be reassured?” questioned Rana, another Palestinian residing in Al Thumama Complex.
As emotions overwhelm her, she clings to the hope that the ceasefire will hold and that she will finally be reunited with her family, her husband, two sons, and three daughters.
It has been more than a year since she last saw them. The news of the ceasefire brought happiness, she said, but the reality remains harsh. “They are very sad because when they return to the north after being displaced to the south, they will find no home waiting for them.”
Their house was in northern Gaza, but after threats from Israel’s occupation forces, they fled south. Sadly, their home was later bombed.
Joy overflowed in the first conversation between Shareehan and her brother Hassan when the news of the ceasefire was announced. “My family is very happy, we were all crying this morning,” she said.
Her family in north of Gaza stayed awake all night, waiting and hoping for the ceasefire, and Shareehan did the same.
“Everyone was talking that it might happen. So I was also keep checking news, praying and hoping someone will tell me it’s ceasefire” she said.
Like many others, she prays that Israel will not break the ceasefire and that peace will finally take hold in Gaza.
As Palestinians in Doha and Gaza await the first days of peace, not interrupted by Israel’s bombs, making prayer and seeking God’s protection and justice has become their only refuge.
“Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, for what remains for us, and compensation from God for what we lost of our loved ones, our homes, and all our dreams,” Rana concluded.
