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Sun, Nov 09, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 19, 1447 | Fajr 05:13 | DXB 
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Gazans celebrate as ceasefire announcement brings relief amid ongoing bombing
Due to a lack of power and disruption of internet services, many of the locals there were unaware of the fact that an agreement had been reached
Relief, jubilation and cautious joy have flooded Palestinians, both in the country and outside as peace looks like a real possibility after a two-year long war. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said that Israel and Hamas had agreed on the first phase of his Gaza peace plan and a ceasefire and hostage deal was announced.
“All praise is to God, the war has stopped, and we can go back to our homes,” said Gaza-based content creator Saleh Eljafarawi, in a video he posted just hours after the announcement came. Sheer relief flooded his face as he spoke.
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In another video he posted how he and a group of his friends walked through the streets in Northern Gaza, shouting out to people to inform them of the good news. Due to a lack of power and disruption of internet services, many of the locals there were unaware of the fact that an agreement had been reached regarding the peace plan.
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“The war has ended, the firing has stopped,” he and his friends can be heard shouting, as they walk through darkened alleyways with the torches shining on their phones.
According to the plan, the militant group Hamas will release all hostages while Israel will pull its troops back to an agreed line. An agreement has also been reached regarding allowing aid into Gaza. Talks about the 20-point peace plan has been progressing in Egypt since Monday.
Return home
Several local Gazans in UAE told Khaleej Times that they were relieved about the developments and hoped to return home soon.
Al Ain resident Mohammed Karam was on a visit to Gaza to see his family when the war began in 2023. Since then, he and his family have been displaced from their homes and have lived in tents. He is tired and all he wants is to return home. “Our homes were destroyed, and we don’t know where our next tent will be,” he said. “When things settle down, I want nothing more than to return to the ruins and rubble of my home in the north of the Gaza Strip.”
His thoughts were echoed by Mohammed Hussein who hails from Beit Hanoun in the north of Gaza. “We will return to our land, our homes, and we will build a tent there,” he said. “We will live in safety and stability. God willing, Gaza will be reconstructed, and our lives will get better.”
The 30-year-old has been displaced 10 times since Israel's offensive began on October 7 and now lives in a tent with his wife and two sons.
Dubai resident Noora (name changed on request) said that she felt a deep sense of relief and just wanted to live in the moment. “This isn’t the first war, or the first ceasefire Palestine has experienced,” she said. “However, I don’t want to worry about the future. I just want to enjoy the beauty of this moment where gunfire has ceased, and my people can go to sleep in peace after two long years. Palestine and the world have changed a lot in these two years, but I hope a peaceful and happy future awaits ”
Noora, who fled from Palestine 12 years ago, hopes that she will be able to return home some day in the future.
Jubilation in the streets
Another video posted by journalist Hani Aburezeq showed jubilation in the streets of Gaza. While some people fell in prostration, others could be seen climbing on top of vehicles, waving the Palestinian flag. “This is a historic moment,” he said in his video. “Despite everything, the people of Gaza are happy.”
The celebrations of the Gaza people come at the end of a two-year long war that has killed at least 67,183 Palestinians, more than half of which were women and children.
A video posted by journalist Saed Hasballah shows several children in Gaza coming together to play drums to celebrate the ceasefire.
Rafah-based journalist Abdallah Alattar posted a video showing Gazans lifting another journalist in the air as he reported about the ceasefire. “Thank God, the American president announced a ceasefire for the first stage of agreement but until the moment, the bombing is going on,” he said. “We hope this deal will be done to the fullest.”
Israeli forces continued their attacks on Gaza despite the announcement, carrying out strikes in both the north and south of the enclave . However, the Israeli military said on Thursday that they were preparing to pull back troops in Gaza. Experts have warned that the ceasefire is just a temporary pause and doesn’t mean that the war is over. There are several details about Trump’s 20-point peace plan that needs to be ironed out, including disarming Hamas.
Nasreen Abdulla
Nasreen Abdulla is a Special Correspondent covering food, tech and human interest stories. When not challenged by deadlines, you’ll find her pulling off submissions on the jiu jitsu mats.
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