(AFP) Palestinian children celebrate in a refugee camp in Al-Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip.

Widespread celebrations erupted among Palestinians on Thursday following news of an agreement between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza.

Youth cheered in the streets of the devastated Gaza City, where most residents had fled due to Israeli bombardment to various parts of the Strip.

Just one day after the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attack, indirect talks in Egypt resulted in an agreement on the initial phase of the Trump framework consisting of 20 points for peace. Abdel Majid Abd Rabah, located in Khan Younis, said, “Thank God for the ceasefire and stopping the bloodshed and killing.”

He added, “I’m not the only one happy, all of Gaza is happy, all the Arab people and the whole world are happy about the ceasefire.” The young man, wearing a black shirt, added, “All thanks and love to those who stood with us and contributed to stopping the bloodshed.”

Residents of the Strip wept and chanted takbirs, expressing hopes that the agreement would end the war and allow them to return to their homes. Tamer Al-Barai, a displaced businessman from Gaza City, said, “I couldn’t stop laughing or crying… I couldn’t believe I survived.” He told Reuters via a messaging app, “We are eagerly awaiting to return to our home in Gaza City and sleep without fear of bombing.” Zakia Rizq, 58, a mother of six, said, “Our house was among the first to be destroyed… and despite the end of the war, we will continue living in tents perhaps for years until Gaza is rebuilt.” Although happy that all her children survived the bombing, she explained that their home is in a border area that will remain under Israeli control.

In the early hours of Thursday, Palestinian youth gathered outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, singing and dancing to national songs, celebrating the agreement. One AFP footage showed youths lifting a journalist wearing a press vest conducting an interview with a microphone in hand. Ayman Al-Najjar expressed happiness with the agreement despite losing his grandfather a week ago. He said, “Despite the wounds and the genocide we faced and losing loved ones and relatives, we are happy and our joy is great because of the ceasefire.” Wael Radwan said, “This is something joyful and we thank anyone who contributed even by words to stop this war and the bloodshed.”

In Al-Maghazi camp in central Gaza, Khaled Al-Namnam, a displaced person from Al-Nasr neighborhood in Gaza City, said he did not expect the war to end. He recounted, “Suddenly I woke up in the morning to very good news… a strange indescribable feeling after two years of bombing, fear, and hunger.” He added, “We felt like we were born again.”

The Civil Defense in Gaza had warned citizens in southern areas of the Strip and those wishing to return to Gaza City not to move or return except after an official announcement from the competent authorities confirming permission to return and ensuring the evacuation of Al-Rashid Street and surrounding areas from Israeli forces. (Agencies)