(17 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip – 17 January 2025
1. Various of displaced people near and around tents
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ekhlas al-Kafarna, displaced resident:
"We’re very happy to hear this news, of course. We were very happy. God willing, on the first day of the truce, we would be more happy because there wouldn’t be warplanes, strikes and people would be able to sleep with ease. And God willing, everyone would go back to their homes and we’d see our loved ones, families and friends. It is a big joy. Once Sunday comes around, we would be happier, God willing."
3. Various of people walking near tents
4. Various of man washing clothes outside his tent
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Haitham Ibrahim, displaced resident from Gaza City:
"Everyone in this street was happy, every single person was happy about it. We’ve been living like this for a year and three months. They had agreed (in past attempts), then it (the talks) broke apart, repeatedly. We couldn’t believe that attempts to achieve a truce are finally successful. We want to see our family across the Gaza Strip. We want to see out siblings, our children, our grandchildren and our friends."
6. Various of displaced people near tents
7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Jamila Abu Arabiya, displaced resident from Gaza City:
"There is a feeling of happiness for one to go back to their place and go back to their loved ones, even if one lost many loved ones and lost family members. It’s a happiness that can’t be described, that everything would stop and life would go back to normal."
8. Various of children sitting outside their family’s tent
9. Various of woman hanging clothes out of her tent to dry, children playing
STORYLINE:
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip expressed happiness on Friday at the possibility of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the territory.
That happened as Israel’s security Cabinet recommended approval on Friday of a ceasefire deal after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed an agreement had been reached that would pause the war with Hamas in Gaza and release dozens of hostages held by militants there.
The deal will now go to the full cabinet for approval before the ceasefire goes into effect.
The prime minister’s office said that if a deal is passed, the ceasefire could start on Sunday with the first hostages released.
"God willing, on the first day of the truce, we would be more happy because there wouldn’t be warplanes, strikes and people would be able to sleep with ease," said Ekhlas al-Kafarna, a displaced resident.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are eager to return to their homes if the long-awaited ceasefire agreement halts the Israel-Hamas war.
"We want to see our family across the Gaza Strip. We want to see out siblings, our children, our grandchildren and our friends," said Haitham Ibrahim, who is displaced from Gaza City.
Footage filmed by The Associated Press on Friday captured scenes of daily life in the streets of Deir al-Balah, where thousands of people are sheltering in tent camps.
People walked in narrow pathways between tents, a man washed clothes in a small container, and another carried an empty bucket along with a bottle, presumably to fill with water.
Jamila Abu Arabiya, who is displaced from Gaza City, also reacted to the possibility of a ceasefire with optimism despite her loss.
She lost her 38-year-old son nearly two weeks ago when he was killed in an Israeli strike that targeted a vehicle.
AP video shot by: Abdel Kareem Hana
Production by: Wafaa Shurafa
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/a3cbd9222d3d49e0b8fac0a7a3afb1b4
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in January 22, 2025, 3:05 pm.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
