Small crowds gathered and celebrated on the streets of Khan Younis in southern Gaza in the early hours of Thursday morning, singing and dancing in the dark after receiving news of the ceasefire plan agreement.
Children can be seen clapping along, and music blares from a speaker in video obtained by news agency Reuters.
The news spread slowly, with many only finding out as they woke up — thanks to the late hour and lack of internet connectivity. Still, by sunrise, there was a widespread sense of joy and relief, a UNICEF spokesperson in Gaza said.
“These are moments that are considered historic moments, long awaited by Palestinian citizens after two years of killing and genocide that was committed with arrogance against the Palestinian people,” said Khan Younis resident Khaled Shaat, according to Reuters.
Another resident, Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo, said “all of the Gaza Strip is happy” about the announcement. “All the Arab people, all of the world is happy with the ceasefire and the end of bloodshed,” he said, according to Reuters.
Remember: More than 67,000 people – most of them women and children – have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the Palestinian health ministry said on Wednesday, with an additional 169,841 people injured.
The true death toll is believed to be much higher, according to the ministry, the United Nations and multiple humanitarian organizations.
In September, an independent UN inquiry declared for the first time that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a finding that echoes those of other genocide experts and human rights groups – but which the Israeli government has firmly rejected.