Friday, May 21, 2021

Photos capture joy in Gaza's streets as Israel-Hamas truce begins after 11 days of violence
Fatima Shbair/Getty Images

An unconditional ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began at 2 a.m. on Friday.

People celebrated the truce, which put a pause on 11 days of constant aerial bombardments.

Gaza's health ministry said 232 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,900 were wounded in the conflict. Israel reported at least 12 dead.

Palestinians in Gaza poured into the streets to celebrate the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.


Children flash the peace sign during the city-wide celebrations. Fatima Shbair/Getty Images

The conflict began on May 10 after Israeli police officers clashed with worshippers at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's old city during the last ten nights of Ramadan.

On the first day of violence, more than 20 people were killed.

There was singing and dancing as Palestinians cheered peace in Gaza City.

Palestinians danced as they waved their national flag and green Hamas flags while celebrating the ceasefire agreement. Adel Hana/AP

The peace deal, which was brokered by Egypt, is meant to end more than ten days of violence and fighting between the two factions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would take part in an international effort to rebuild Gaza, but was quick to clarify that he would work with the Palestinian Authority — a semi-autonomous group representing much of the Palestinian territories — and not Hamas.

For its part, Hamas said "the Palestinian resistance will abide by this agreement as long as the occupation abides by it," according to The New York Times.

Rocket fire was replaced by celebratory fireworks after the 2 a.m. ceasefire.
The hours leading up to the ceasefire saw both sides trading barrages up until 10 minutes before the truce. Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Washington Post wrote that the two sides continued to exchange barrages until both Hamas rocket fire and Israeli aerial bombardments halted ten minutes before 2 a.m.

The sounds of air raid sirens were later replaced by fireworks, as happy Gaza residents held up their phone lights and marched through dark neighborhoods.


Gaza's health officials say 232 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,900 were wounded during the conflict — which was the worst fighting that the region has seen in years.
Joyful celebrations were seen as people cried and cheered, gathering to celebrate the truce. Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

The bulk of the deaths in the conflict have been civilians. At least 60 of those killed were children.

Israel claimed that a recent strike on a Hamas that killed 42 civilians in their homes was an "accident" that lead to "unintended consequences."

Israel reported that at least 12 of its citizens were killed in the violence.


Happy children flashed peace signs during the celebration after days of bombing devastated the city.
The ceasefire will give Gaza's children some respite from the constant aerial bombardments. Mohammed Salem/Reuters

The BBC and AP reported that air strikes were burying families in the rubble of their own homes, killing children as young as 5.

Around 72,000 people were displaced during the bombardments and were forced into shelters set up by the United Nations in schools.
Men carried each other up the street during the celebration. MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images

Source: The New York Times


A doctor rejoiced after receiving news of the ceasefire.
Medical staff was also seen celebrating outside of local hospitals. Mohammed Salem/Reuters

According to the Guardian, the airstrikes have also taken a huge toll on the city's healthcare system. Multiple medical facilities were damaged during the strikes, while others suffered severe medicine and supply shortages.

CNN reported that on top of having to deal with injuries, the city's doctors are also bracing to deal with a surge in COVID cases — as makeshift shelters may soon turn into hotbeds for the virus.

Celebrations continued into the wee hours, though some are skeptical that the fragile peace will hold.

Children joined their parents to commemorate the moment. MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images

During the last round of major conflicts between the two, in 2014, nine separate ceasefires were called before a lasting, if tense, peace was found.


Cars rolled down the street tooting their horns in the early morning hours.
Revelers cruise down the street hanging out of their cars. Mohammed Salem/Reuters

Al Jazeera wrote that the ceasefire was called after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that his security cabinet had voted unanimously to accept the Egyptian-mediated truce.


Even in the midst of devastation and rubble, the residents of Gaza found momentary joy.

A man looks skyward amidst the rubble as he celebrates the ceasefire. Mohammed Salem/Reuters

The AP reported that senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya called the truce a "victory" when he addressed a crowd in Gaza City.

He also claimed that Israel had not destroyed Hamas's military capabilities and that its fighters were "striding proudly" in its network of underground tunnels.
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