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Palestinian civilians have shown jubilation over the recently announced truce and prisoner exchange deal - though several worry about processing the accumulated grief that has grown during 24 months of war.

"Upon waking, when we heard the news regarding the truce, it brought both joy and pain," shared a 38-year-old mother, who lost her 16-year-old son amid the fighting.

"Due to relief, everyone from children to elders began shouting," he added. "Meanwhile people who had lost loved ones commemorated their memory and wondering how we would come back to our houses lacking their presence."

Terms of the Arrangement

The newly revealed ceasefire deal - which needs additional agreement by the nation's defense council - will lead to the liberation of 20 captive individuals and the remains of 28 deceased captives in compensation of 250 Palestinian prisoners facing lifetime imprisonment in detention facilities and 1,700 detainees from Gaza.

This represents the first phase of a comprehensive peace proposal that could hopefully create an end to the war - although subsequent stages require further discussion.

Individual Accounts

"Ordinary people like us, are the ones who've suffered - truly suffered pain," shared Daniel Abu Tabeekh, from the Jabalia displacement center.

"Political groups fail to comprehend our hardship. Those leaders residing safely overseas have little understanding of the suffering we're enduring here in Gaza."

"I lack housing," he continued. "I have survived in public spaces for a year and a half."

Conflict Background

Military operations started in the region in answer to the armed incursions on the seventh of October, 2023, when approximately 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians, were killed and 251 others taken hostage.

The following military campaign have led to the killing of over 67,000 Gazans, most of whom are civilians, according to the territory's health ministry.

Ruin and Optimism

More than 90% of Gaza's residential buildings has been harmed or demolished, according to global bodies.

"Heaven blessed us for our endurance," said a woman named Umm Nader from the northern territory, who lost seven relatives throughout the conflict, including her sons.

"Hopefully, he will support the peacemakers and enable everyone to go back to our houses, and for the captive individuals to return safely," she stated. "We don't want war."

Healthcare Viewpoint

Medical professional Mousa, a physician in central Gaza, commented: "We have lost much during the two years of war. The region is devastated. A challenging period remains ahead, but the important thing is we desire protection."

Emotional Consequences

As information about a potential truce emerged during the weekend, an international representative stated: "The hardest element in the recent 730 days, is that during the disappearance of family members, your relatives, your companions, your community members, you are not able to give yourself permission to mourn, or to experience the profound grief and to handle your natural responses."

"As your central attention is to attempt to halt what's happening."

"During times our community and our relatives were experiencing mortality, the emotion became: how do you stop this? What method exists to lay to rest your deceased and how do you tend to your hurt?"

"But after the event, which I hope to be very soon, the dominant sentiment will be grief, mourning, and a strong, powerful awareness of absence. Since what has disappeared is immense."