Palestinians in Gaza have celebrated the agreement of a ceasefire and hostage release deal - but many fear confronting the grief that has built up over two years of war.
This morning, when we heard the news about the truce, it brought both joy and pain, 38-year-old Umm Hassan, who lost his 16-year-old son during the war, told the BBC.
Out of joy, both the young and the old began shouting, he said. And those who had lost loved ones started remembering them and wondering how we would return home without them.
Every person who lost someone feels that sorrow deeply and wonders how they'll return home, he added.
The agreement announced by US President Donald Trump - which still must be accepted by Israel's security cabinet - will see the release of 20 living hostages and the bodies of 28 dead hostages in return for 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails and 1,700 detainees from Gaza.
It is the first phase of a 20-point peace plan that could lead to an end to the war - though the latter phases still need to be negotiated.
The factions don't feel our pain. Those leaders sitting comfortably abroad have no sense of the suffering we're enduring here in Gaza, expressed Daniel Abu Tabeekh from the Jabalia refugee camp.
As hostilities initially erupted on October 7, 2023, in response to Hamas attacks that resulted in significant Israeli casualties, Israel’s intensive military operations claimed the lives of over 67,000 Palestinians, according to data from Hamas-run health services.
With over 90% of Gaza's housing damaged or destroyed, residents like Umm Nader Kloub, who lost seven relatives during the conflict, cling to hope amidst the tragedy. We don't want war, she said, expressing a wish for peace for all involved.
Healthcare professionals, such as Dr. Muhammad Rayan from al-Aqsa hospital, emphasized the difficulty of feeling joy amidst the devastating losses.
The announcement of a ceasefire offers a glimpse of hope, but many in Gaza are grappling with the imminent process of mourning and acknowledging their enormous losses.
This morning, when we heard the news about the truce, it brought both joy and pain, 38-year-old Umm Hassan, who lost his 16-year-old son during the war, told the BBC.
Out of joy, both the young and the old began shouting, he said. And those who had lost loved ones started remembering them and wondering how we would return home without them.
Every person who lost someone feels that sorrow deeply and wonders how they'll return home, he added.
The agreement announced by US President Donald Trump - which still must be accepted by Israel's security cabinet - will see the release of 20 living hostages and the bodies of 28 dead hostages in return for 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails and 1,700 detainees from Gaza.
It is the first phase of a 20-point peace plan that could lead to an end to the war - though the latter phases still need to be negotiated.
The factions don't feel our pain. Those leaders sitting comfortably abroad have no sense of the suffering we're enduring here in Gaza, expressed Daniel Abu Tabeekh from the Jabalia refugee camp.
As hostilities initially erupted on October 7, 2023, in response to Hamas attacks that resulted in significant Israeli casualties, Israel’s intensive military operations claimed the lives of over 67,000 Palestinians, according to data from Hamas-run health services.
With over 90% of Gaza's housing damaged or destroyed, residents like Umm Nader Kloub, who lost seven relatives during the conflict, cling to hope amidst the tragedy. We don't want war, she said, expressing a wish for peace for all involved.
Healthcare professionals, such as Dr. Muhammad Rayan from al-Aqsa hospital, emphasized the difficulty of feeling joy amidst the devastating losses.
The announcement of a ceasefire offers a glimpse of hope, but many in Gaza are grappling with the imminent process of mourning and acknowledging their enormous losses.
