‘We are finally in our home’
Rana Mohsen, 43, who was displaced from northern Jabalia to Gaza City, says she didn’t wait for the official start of the ceasefire to return to where her home once stood.
“We’ve been waiting for this moment for 16 months,” said the mother of three. “My joy is indescribable. We are finally in our home. There is no home left, just rubble, but it’s our home. We are lucky because part of the roof is still intact.
“The extent of the destruction is unimaginable. Buildings and landmarks have completely disappeared, as if it were a ghost town or abandoned cities.”
The aftermath of Israeli air attacks on Jabalia
Philadelphi Corridor remains hurdle in ceasefire deal
As people in Gaza celebrate the ceasefire, there is uncertainty about whether the second phase of the deal will come to fruition.
In his speech on Saturday, Netanyahu said the Israeli military will retain control of the narrow area of land along Gaza’s border with Egypt, which is not what is stipulated in the deal.
“Netanyahu in the second phase is likely to insist on maintaining the control of the Philadelphi Corridor and then we’re going to start having some problems,” Al Jazeera senior political analyst Marwan Bishara said.
“The presence of the Israeli military in the Philadelphi Corridor has nothing to do with Hamas,” he added. “Maybe there will be a symbolic presence in one or two points of the Philadelphi Corridor, but no Israeli presence.”
Hamas spokesperson says group committed to ceasefire deal
Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for Hamas’s Qassam Brigades, is giving a televised speech saying the group is committed to respecting the ceasefire deal and urging mediators to compel Israel to respect the agreement.
He claims the success of the process will depend upon Israel’s goodwill.
- The [ceasefire] deal… could have been reached over a year ago, yet Netanyahu’s malicious ambitions led him to continue this genocidal war.
- We want the deal to be a success to end the bloodshed among our people.
- We are prepared to honour all the terms of the agreement and respect the timetable set.
- All this depends on reciprocity, otherwise the entire deal will be compromised.
- October 7 [2023] was a result of the continued oppression of Palestinian people.
- The occupation is the root of all evil and we must put an end to it. All attempts to continue this will be met by force.
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