Hundreds of Gazans cheer on streets as ceasefire takes hold

Thousands of Palestinians burst into the streets across Gaza as a desperately awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on January 19, some in celebration, others to visit the graves of relatives, while many rushed back to see what remained of their homes.

According to local reports published by Reuters, hundreds of people picked their way through a devastated landscape of rubble and twisted metal in the north of the territory, where some of the most intense Israeli airstrikes and battles with the militants took place.

Armed Hamas fighters drove through the southern city of Khan Younis, with crowds cheering and chanting. Some people had gathered to cheer the fighters chanted "Greetings to Al-Qassam Brigades" - the armed wing of Hamas.

The ceasefire deal took effect after a nearly three-hour delay on 11.15 a.m local time, with both parties blaming each other for it. According to the Hamas-run Palestinian Civil Emergency Service, Israeli military strikes killed at least 13 people in attacks across the enclave during the delay. 

As Caliber.Az recalls, the ceasefire-hostage release agreement signed in Doha early on January 17 and ratified by Israel the next day is set to begin on January 19. Hamas officials have released the names of the first three Israeli hostages that are to be released today, all of them young females that have been kidnapped during the October 7 attacks. 

Hundreds of aid trucks are also entering the Gaza border from Egypt to deliver desperately needed aid to the Palestinian territory. According to Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, 600 trucks a day would enter Gaza after the ceasefire takes effect, including 50 carrying fuel.

The ceasefire and the anticipated release will conclude a year-long international effort aimed at securing an agreement between Hamas and Israel to bring a pause to the war. The deal will also facilitate the release of the remaining 97 Israeli hostages, with the first batch of 33 captives, dead and alive, expected to be freed over the next 42 days, including two Israeli civilians that have been held by Hamas since 2014 and 2015. In exchange the Israeli side will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian security prisoners that have been detained over the past years. 

By Nazrin Sadigova