Boys race through Gaza City celebrating the ceasefire. Photograph by @ChrisMcGreal
A truce has been reached between Israel and Hamas, ending a week of fighting which cost the lives of at least 155 Palestinians and five Israelis.
The violence between Israel and Gaza flared after Israeli drones targeted and killed a Hamas military chief on November 14, marking the start of cross-border exchange of fire. Gaza militants fired rockets into Israel, which bombarded Gaza from land, air and sea.
According to the ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, Israel will stop all hostilities against Gaza, which will end “rocket attacks and all attacks along the border.” If this truce holds for the next 24 hours, Israel would have to start procedures to end the Gaza blockade by opening border crossings and allowing the movement of people and goods.
Online, anticipation has been building up for the declaration of a ceasefire.
Andy Carvin notes:
Apart from new year's, I don't think I've ever seen so many people tweet what time it is. #gaza #ceasefire
— Andy Carvin (@acarvin) November 21, 2012
While Iyad El_Baghdadi remarks:
9:08 local time, explosions still being heard in #Gaza, sirens still being sounded in #Israel.
— Iyad El-Baghdadi (@iyad_elbaghdadi) November 21, 2012
Soon, the sound of celebratory gunfire filled the air in Gaza.
On Audioboo, BBC Middle East Bureau Chief Paul Danahar, who is in Gaza, shares a sound track:
Nayef describes the scene:
Gaza streets are full of celebrations. Satisfaction, pride & glory are drawn all over Gazans faces. #Gaza #غزة #Palestine
— Nayef (@TheNElectric) November 21, 2012
While Majed Abusalama notes:
We do not trust #Israel but we can enjoy this moment of #Peace. in #Gaza people are so strong, I really #love them. #resistance
— Majed Abusalama (@MajedAbusalama) November 21, 2012
Who Won?
Egyptian Mostafa Hussein jokes:
Congratulations Bibi. You made Khamas stronger.
— Mostafa Hussein (@moftasa) November 21, 2012
Bibi is Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and Khamas is the way many Israelis pronounce Hamas
Shadi Hamid tweets:
So Hamas got: greater regional legitimacy, spike in popularity, end of assassinations, easing flow of goods into Gaza & a weaker PA to boot.
— Shadi Hamid (@shadihamid) November 21, 2012
He continues:
In asymmetric battles such as this one, it's very hard for a group like Hamas to ever actually "lose," as long as it survives.
— Shadi Hamid (@shadihamid) November 21, 2012
Israeli Elizabeth Tsurkov says:
@Beltrew Bibi kept talking about weakening Hamas and removing them from power for years, and this agreement solidifies their rule
— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) November 21, 2012
Lauren E. Bohn, who is in Jerusalem, adds:
Talking to handful of #Israel analysts who all say #Hamas came out of this a winner: more international recognition + credibility #Gaza
— Lauren Bohn (@LaurenBohn) November 21, 2012
And journalist Gregg Carlstrom tweets:
My Twitter feed variously informs me that the real winners today are Israel, Hamas, Egypt, the US and Iran. (but everyone agrees Abbas lost)
— Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) November 21, 2012
Praise for Egypt
On Twitter, Palestinians heaped praise on Egypt, for its role in mediating a ceasefire.
Yaser Alzaatreh writes (ar):
@YZaatreh: Egypt, its President and people, were with us. They did not hesitate in supporting us. Their stance hurt the Zionists. Egypt has returned to us and we have returned to it. Egypt is the leader of Arabs and the sign of their pride.
And, from Gaza, Ola Anan adds (ar):
@olanan: From the bottom of my heart, thank you Egypt!!
What Next?
For many, the ceasefire is a welcome relief.
Karen Knox, from Tel Aviv, tweets:
So thankful for #ceasefire tonight as I tuck my little girl into bed here in #TelAviv.
— Karen Knox (@KarenAbroad) November 21, 2012
But many are left wondering how long the peace between Gaza and Israel will last for.
Palestinian Hasan Karajah says (ar):
@hasankarajah: Some will go to drink to victory after they got exhausted from writing tweets but the men of the resistance movement will be meeting now to draw up a plan for the next strike. The resistance continues.
And, from Israel, Tsurkov adds:
@Elizrael: In 20min the post on Bibi’s official fb page on the cease-fire got 1,344 responses. Overwhelming majority is negative http://on.fb.me/TcsAc1
Written by Amira Al Hussaini
