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With the hope that joy will remain from this first step until the establishment of lasting peace in our region.

The great joy that spread like wildfire across all areas between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea shows how important the cessation of fighting is, even if only temporary according to our inner feelings, and unfortunately according to the expressions and language of Benjamin Netanyahu. It gives hope and life to every living soul in both peoples, except for those who seek revenge and perpetual war on both sides. Joy is everywhere: the joy of the families of the abducted who have returned to their mothers' arms, the joy of the mothers of soldiers and reservists who survived the war and death and will return to their homes, the joy of the people of Gaza who survived the brutal, violent, destructive, and deadly war, and the joy of the displaced in Gaza who have returned to their homes, even if they are destroyed. You will also be surprised to know about the joy of the mothers of Palestinian prisoners who returned to their families.

Everyone rejoices and will continue to rejoice, except for the residents of Gaza, most of whom have nowhere to go, not even a torn tent to shelter them. Most are still in mourning for the loss of their loved ones, and some for the loss of their entire families or all their beloved ones. Most are starving, sick, without hospitals, schools, winter clothes, a state, a government, or any address to turn to. Most importantly, they have no hope for the near or distant future. They are besieged from all sides, even from the frightening skies. These are the forgotten ones from all sides involved in this disaster, and no one remembers them. They find themselves rejoicing only because they have survived life.

Alongside them, we must remember that the families of the other abductees still do not know the fate of their loved ones in captivity. Most of them do not know whether they are alive or dead, and all fear they may never see them again, even those expected to be released next Saturday. With such a government and such a prime minister, all bad things can happen at any moment.

Meanwhile, let us hope that the first phase of the deal will be fully implemented and that negotiations for the next stages will proceed without the prime minister pulling another trick from his pocket.

Both peoples need safe lives, peace, and the joy of life. Both peoples need to rid themselves of both occupations because the Palestinian people are not the only ones occupied; the Israeli people are also prisoners of this occupation.

Written by: Tamim Abu Khait



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