Palestinians in Gaza look ahead with hope and fear amid uncertain ceasefire. Israel-Palestine conflict news

Deir al-Balah, Gaza – After a long-awaited ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas took effect in Gaza on Sunday, bringing an end to one of the region’s most devastating wars, residents are now watching with a mix of relief and disbelief.

After months of relentless Israeli attacks, the skies have finally turned calm, with people returning to their affected areas facing the immense challenges of rebuilding lives devastated by the 15-month-old war.

Displaced residents taking refuge in makeshift camps in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, spoke to Al Jazeera to share their mixed feelings, losses and their hopes and fears for the future.

Hamza al-Ramlawi, 70, from Tal al-Hawa, Gaza City

“We are very happy and relieved that a ceasefire agreement has finally been reached,” al-Ramlavi said.

“The sadness will remain in our hearts. We will remember those we have lost among family and loved ones. There is joy that we will return, but this joy is filled with loss and sorrow.

“I will miss my son, Mohammed, who I lost in a bombing near our tent in Az-Zawayda in central Gaza. Their loss is as vast as the universe.

“For us, we are now living our days with peace of mind as the bloodshed has finally stopped.

“This is the first night we have slept in peace and quiet. Every night during the war, we slept in fear of any attack that could target us.

“We have suffered a lot of wars. I hope both sides will calm down and let people live their lives.

“We hope that this ceasefire will hold. We cannot tolerate this great war which has turned our lives into devastation.

“I would be lying if I said I would happily return to my home in the North when I lost my son. Let me keep quiet.”

Suleiman Abdel Kader, 74, resident of Deir al-Balah

“We thank God that the war has at last been stopped. I hope that all the displaced can return to their homes soon,” Abdel Kader said.

“People are grieving and have lost a lot. Some of our relatives are still buried under the debris, and others are missing.

“I am still angry towards the European world and America because they did not apply enough pressure in the beginning of these 15 months of war.

“It was a great suffering that every person in Gaza endured.

“I hope that people’s wounds will be healed, the injured will get treatment and those who have lost their loved ones will find comfort.

“We hope that the ceasefire will continue, despite my many fears that Israel does not keep its promises.”

Samah Shalail, 44, mother of five from Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza:

“The first day of the ceasefire felt strange. Some people were celebrating and happy, while others were crying and remembering their loved ones who died in this war,” Shaleel said.

“This is the first night we have slept peacefully, feeling comfortable knowing that the bloodshed will stop, that we will return to our land, and that we are on the verge of starting a new life.

“The Palestinian people are full of hope and determination to move forward.

“At the beginning of the ceasefire announcement, I was feeling cautiously optimistic. But when the exchange of prisoners began and the planes disappeared from the sky, I began to feel some relief.

“The heart is still wounded. We cannot talk about happiness and joy, but there is psychological relief. We are still afraid of the obstacles waiting for us. The country has been completely destroyed.

“I hope that the ceasefire will continue as long as there are agreements for the release of prisoners and hostages.

“I am excited for what is to come, for life to begin once again. I want my children to return to their school desks.

Souheila Hazem, 65, from Deir al-Balah:

“The feeling of the ceasefire is indescribable,” Hazem said. “We are still deeply affected and saddened by the war.

“I lost my 30-year-old son Hatem, a father of three daughters, in a bombing in Deir al-Balah last June. My sister also lost her only son, my brother also lost his son and other relatives too. No one escaped the loss. We all had to suffer a lot in this war.

“After such a long absence we finally slept our long nights. We could not sleep because of the bombing and fear. If the bombing had not hit us, it would have hit my neighbors, my family, or people we know elsewhere. Every night, when darkness came, the anxiety and fear also increased.

“We are all one family in this war, and our wounds are shared. We waited for the war to end so that we could learn about the fate of those with whom we had lost contact due to communication breakdown.

“Things are easier for us now. We feel great relief and hope that international efforts to stabilize the ceasefire will continue.

“Everyone should know that this is our land, and it is our right to live here. We pray to God to compensate us for what we have lost.

“I don’t have any plans. I just want to live normally and with stability.