Ceasefire sparks celebrations across Gaza after 15-month war

Residents return to devastated neighborhoods, expressing relief and hope as Gaza rebuilds after conflict.

Displaced Palestinians celebrate the announcement of a ceasefire and a hostage-prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on January 19, 2025. Photo by Majdi Fathi/Nur/Getty Images

By Widya Putri and Clarisa Sendy

Celebrations erupted across Gaza as a long-awaited ceasefire brought an end to 15 months of devastating conflict. The truce, which began at 11:15am local time (09:15 GMT) on Sunday, followed the submission of a list of three female captives by Hamas to Israeli mediators. The prisoner exchange, a key element of the deal, marks a turning point in a conflict that has left much of Gaza in ruins.

Gaza resident Om Salah expressed her joy as she prepared to return to her home in Gaza City. “My joy is beyond measure,” she told Al Jazeera. “From the moment they announced the ceasefire, I quickly packed all my things because I am ready to go to Gaza City. My children are extremely happy to see our families, relatives, and our lands again. Back home, joy will return to our lives.”

A young Palestinian man shared similar sentiments, emphasizing the relief felt by many. “Everyone is happy, particularly the children,” he said. However, he voiced concerns about the fragility of the ceasefire. “Hopefully, the Israelis will not violate it in the next few days.”

As residents begin to return to their neighborhoods, the scale of destruction is overwhelming. Displaced families, many of whom have lived in temporary shelters, now face the daunting task of rebuilding. Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Khan Younis, described the destruction in Rafah as “massive.”

“People didn’t even recognize their neighborhoods,” Khoudary reported. “Still, there’s happiness everywhere. People are smiling, chanting, and saying, ‘We made it alive out of this war.’”

For some, the journey home is bittersweet. Anwar, a displaced man from Khan Younis, plans to return to Rafah despite reports of his home’s destruction. “I will find a place to set up a tent for my eight-member family,” he said. “The months of war felt like a nightmare, but I need to go back to where I was born.”

Others, like Mahmoud Anwar Abu-Salem, face even greater challenges. Returning to his neighborhood after three months in a refugee camp, he found his five-story family home reduced to rubble. “Fifty members of my family will live in the streets,” he said, noting that schools, mosques, and basic infrastructure had also been destroyed.

While the ceasefire brings hope, it also leaves many grappling with uncertainty. Nour Saqqa, a displaced woman from Gaza City, described her emotional turmoil. “We haven’t been able to feel completely relieved,” she said. “The ceasefire itself is fragmented, causing even more psychological stress.”

Saqqa highlighted the ongoing restrictions on returning home as a significant source of anxiety. “We are constantly living through uncertainty. Even this relief feels incomplete,” she said.

First aid and civil defense workers celebrate after the announcement of a ceasefire and a hostage-prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel on January 19, 2025, in Gaza City, Gaza. Photo by Hamza Z. H. Qraiqea/Anadolu/Getty Images

Videos shared online showed health workers and rescuers celebrating in the streets, chanting and raising victory signs. Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from outside Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah, noted the absence of airstrikes and drones for the first time in months. “The only sounds we hear are gunshots and fireworks celebrating the ceasefire,” Mahmoud said.

In the hospital courtyard, families were seen dismantling tents and preparing to leave. “There is so much excitement on their faces as they leave the hospital gates,” Mahmoud added.

The 15-month conflict has been described as one of the deadliest in recent history. Palestinian officials report nearly 47,000 deaths and over 100,000 injuries, though rights groups suggest the actual toll may be even higher. In Israel, more than 1,100 people were killed during Hamas-led attacks in October 2023, with over 200 taken captive.

A view of destruction in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which endured heavy Israeli attacks, as a ceasefire begins following an agreement between Hamas and Israel on January 19, 2025. Photo by Mahmoud Bassam/Anadolu/Getty Images

As Gaza begins its recovery, international attention remains focused on ensuring the ceasefire holds and addressing the humanitarian crisis. While celebrations continue, the road to rebuilding and lasting peace remains fraught with challenges. For many, the ceasefire represents a moment of hope in the midst of immense tragedy.

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