As word of the agreement spread through the besieged enclave, residents of southern Gaza’s Khan Younis took to the streets to celebrate what many hoped would mark the first real reprieve from Israeli attacks since a fragile truce was shattered by Israel more than six months ago.

“Thank God for this ceasefire, the end of bloodshed and killing … all of Gaza is happy,” Gaza resident Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo said. “These are the moments that are considered historic, long-awaited by Palestinian citizens,” added resident Khaled Shaat.” The joy we saw a short time ago in the street is relief from the massacres, killing and genocide.” Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza, Hani Mahmoud, said there has been a collective sigh of relief among the enclave’s embattled population. “This is a historic moment – and on a personal note, such a relief,” he said.

After suffering an Israeli-induced famine for months, all eyes are now on when critical aid, food and medical supplies can begin distribution at similar levels to the brief ceasefire earlier this year. The World Health Organisation’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency “stands ready to scale up its work to meet the dire health needs of patients across Gaza… the best medicine is peace.” The ceasefire deal, announced last Wednesday night by United States President Donald Trump, concerns the first phase of a broader plan to end the two-year war. It calls for the release of the remaining Israeli captives held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, while Israeli forces pull back to “an agreed-upon line,” according to Trump. Mediator Qatar said further details would be announced later. A second phase, still to be negotiated, is expected to involve a full Israeli withdrawal, Hamas’s disarmament and the establishment of new security and governance arrangements in Gaza. Nabeel Awad-Allah, a Gaza resident, expressed hope that the ceasefire plan would “preserve what remains of the Palestinians”. “In order to preserve the lives of Palestinians, we must all be happy with this ceasefire agreement. It is excellent,” Awad-Allah said.

Another resident, Abu Hesham, said while the initial agreement puts our minds at ease”, people do not trust the Israeli government and “fear the period that will follow the first phase”. He said there should be security guarantees for the enclave that go beyond the word of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Overnight, Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud said Palestinians settled into an unusual night of relative calm, as aerial bombardment that has become routine largely subsided. However, Gaza’s civil defense announced several strikes continued after the deal’s announcement, including “a series of intense air strikes” in Gaza City. (Al Jazeera)