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JABALIA: A man holds up a Palestinian flag while standing atop the rubble of a collapsed building at the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in the northern Gaza Strip on January 19, 2025. — AFP photos
JABALIA: A man holds up a Palestinian flag while standing atop the rubble of a collapsed building at the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in the northern Gaza Strip on January 19, 2025. — AFP photos

Resilience amid resistance: Gazans in Kuwait hail truce

Ceasefire brings hope amid the devastation of Gaza

KUWAIT: The ceasefire in Gaza, which went into effect on Sunday, has brought a much-needed sense of relief to many Palestinians, including those in Kuwait, after enduring 15 months of unimaginable suffering. With nearly 47,000 Gazans losing their lives in the genocide, the ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope after a period of intense violence and loss. However, for those affected by the ongoing destruction, the emotional toll remains, as the trauma and grief continue to impact families in profound ways.

Mohamed Nasr, whose family hails from Gaza’s Shujaiya neighborhood, spoke with unwavering faith as he reflected on Gaza’s resilience. “We’re resilient. Even if we have to live in tents amidst the rubble, we will never abandon our land,” he said. Despite the destruction, he described how the people of Gaza are already beginning to rebuild their homes and communities, resolute in their determination to rise again.

“With the ceasefire, prices have decreased by 80 to 90 percent,” Nasr added, noting the significant relief the truce has brought to the community still reeling from the effects of the war. However, he acknowledged that the emotional toll of the conflict remains heavy, and the scars left behind will take much longer to heal.

The cost of the war is undeniable. “Nothing will replace the loss. The only consolation is the promise of heaven for the martyrs,” Nasr shared. He spoke of the heartbreak he felt over the loss of more than 20 relatives in Gaza, part of a family of 200. His cousin’s son, now fighting for his life in a hospital, has left the family in a state of uncertainty. “We don’t know if he will survive or not,” he said. Reflecting on the broader political landscape, Nasr added, “What happened on October 7th brought the Palestinian cause to the forefront, thanks to God and the Palestinian resistance. No negotiations have ever changed anything. These are our enemies until the end of time.”

Nasr’s sense of resilience was echoed by others, including Nafeth Al-Qishawi, who lost 42 relatives during the 15-month-long Zionist attack. “Yesterday, the last hours were the hardest. (The Zionist entity) was bombing like crazy,” he recounted. But he said Palestinians are accustomed to overcoming struggles, his pride in his homeland’s resilience evident.

“People rise up and rebuild with their own hands, immediately. Gaza is different from other parts of Palestine; it’s a place that always finds a way to bloom and recover.” Despite the hardships, he also reflected on what many in Gaza view as a victory in the war’s aftermath: “Thousands of (people in the Zionist entity) fled the country, and their economy is in ruins. To us, that is a victory.”

For Khaled Ahmed Khaled Al-Mansara, the ceasefire brought a mix of joy and reflection on the personal losses his family endured. “I can’t describe the joy I feel. After all the killing, the displacement, the hunger, to finally have peace — it’s indescribable,” he said. Al-Mansara’s family in Gaza faced unimaginable hardship, with constant fear, no food and no clean water. “But now, they feel safe for the first time in a long while,” he said, though he acknowledged the lingering fear that the violence could return. Despite this, he held a strong belief that Gaza would rebuild. “Palestinians never give up,” he affirmed.

Maher Hassan, who is also from Gaza, voiced both relief and lingering sorrow. “Well, it’s a joy, a joy. The people there suffered a lot, endured so much, and were hurt so much. And now the problem is, they don’t know what they will do. We are in contact with our family there, and most of them, of course, have no homes left,” he said.

Hassan’s family has also been deeply affected by the war, with some relatives injured and others displaced. “My relatives, cousins, they are all there,” he shared, referring to his family members still in Gaza. “Many of them are injured, including two young children, a boy and a girl,” he explained. “They were injured in their legs.”

Despite the immense challenges, Hassan remains hopeful about the future. “We are stronger than our enemies, and God willing, the neighbors will support us well,” he said. He spoke with urgency about the need for medical assistance, especially for those with severe injuries. “Rebuilding can wait, but the most important thing right now is the people in critical condition, especially the injured,” he said.

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