Residents of Gaza woke Thursday to devastation, with smoke, rubble, and new fatalities following Israeli air strikes, despite news of an anticipated ceasefire agreement.
Saeed Alloush, a Gaza resident, described the stark contrast: “It was the happiest night since October 7, but joy turned to sadness when we learned of 40 martyrs, including my uncle.”
The strikes occurred after Qatar and the US announced a fragile truce set to begin Sunday. Gaza’s civil defence agency reported 73 deaths since Wednesday, including 20 children and 25 women.
Crowds gathered to clear rubble from destroyed buildings, while hospitals grappled with casualties amidst grief-stricken families.
Aid organisations and residents remain sceptical, fearing intensified violence until the ceasefire takes effect. International mediators hope the agreement, which includes a hostage and prisoner exchange, will hold.
The war, triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, has claimed over 46,000 lives in Gaza, with most victims being civilians.