Mourning and celebrations online after Gaza ceasefire agreement

Social media users have begun to flood online platforms in both celebration and mourning, following the official announcement on Wednesday of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani announced the deal during a press conference in Doha, saying the agreement will take effect on 19 January.

It stated that the first phase of the ceasefire would involve the exchange of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners and a return to “sustainable calm”, with the aim of achieving a permanent ceasefire.

Israel’s war on Gaza, which has lasted 467 days, has killed over 46,000 people, most of whom are women and children, since the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. More than 110,000 others have been wounded in the enclave during the war and thousands are presumed dead under Gaza’s rubble.

Palestinians in Gaza have posted their reactions to the news online, saying that spirits are high. 

“How I wish you were with us now, and saw our joy and the joy of the people around us,” one Palestinian wrote.

“Children are running and setting off fireworks, young people are chanting Eid takbeers, old men are chanting tahleel, and women are ululating, as if they were born again. How could they not, when God saved them from this genocide!”

“I can’t believe i survived to witness this day. I legit thought I wouldn’t,” journalist Bayan Abusultan posted on X. 

Writer Jehad Abusalim thanked those around the world who have worked to apply pressure on Israel to agree to a ceasefire.

“All thanks and appreciation to everyone who spared no effort or work, and to everyone who spoke the truth in the face of this unjust world, to everyone who stood with our people in Gaza, and did not allow the genocide to be hidden from the awareness of the masses, and contributed to the pressure to stop it.”

While many posts are celebrating the near end of the bombardment, Palestinians are also thinking of those they have lost in the last 15 months. 

“Remembering our fallen comrades killed by the Israeli genocidal army. Remembering Dr Ahmad Makadmeh executed in Shifa hospital. Remembering Dr Adnan Al Bursh tortured to death,” Palestinian surgeon and activist Ghassan Abu Sitta posted on X. 

While Israelis are happy about the release of the hostages, many perceive the deal as a potential loss for Israel in the long run. 

“On a realistic strategic level, this is a disastrous deal. On an emotional level, there is tremendous damage here – a tremendous morale boost for jihadists around the world,” one account posted. 

Palestinians in the diaspora have expressed happiness that a deal was finally made but blame the United States and the Biden administration for not achieving it earlier. 

The sentiment of many posts is that Gaza, in some ways, has “won”.

“Gaza has won, Palestine has won, resistance has won. Imperialism and Zionism has lost, the Democratic Party has lost, the future of the Zionist state continues to be eroded. Everyone who participated, aided and abetted this genocide will continue to pay the price,” Palestinian-American activist Nerdeen Kiswani posted on X. 

Academic Eman Abdelhadi echoed the sentiments of many online who feel relieved with the news of the ceasefire but do not see it as an end to advocating for Palestine. 

“The only thing that is clear is the work still ahead of us to hold Israel to account, to make sure none of this happens again, to help Gaza rebuild, to Free Palestine,” academic Abdelhadi wrote.