Protests have taken place in London weekly since the war began in October 2023. Supporters from both sides have welcomed the announcement.
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Londoners are celebrating a much-anticipated ceasefire between Hamas and Israel after 474 days of near-continuous fighting.
On Monday, the first three Israeli hostages were returned as part of the agreement.
British-Israeli national Emily Damari, who was taken from her home in southern Israel on 7 October 2023, was one of those released.
She belongs to a larger group of 33 hostages who will be exchanged for about 1,900 Palestinians during the first phase of the ceasefire.
But Israelis and Palestinians all over the world are watching these events with apprehension.
Many fear a resumption of violence will ruin the much hoped for opportunity for hostages and prisoners from both sides to return home.
Ceasefires between the two side are notoriously fragile, and previous attempts during the conflict have ended in failure.
City News spoke to Londoners about their reactions to the agreement and what they anticipate might happen next.
Celebration and mourning
In the kosher restaurant where she works in north-west London, Joanne describes her emotions surrounding the ceasefire.
“It’s such a relief to be honest. I’m really happy that something is finally happening”, she said.
She has family and friends in Israel, where she spent part of her childhood and returns to several times a year. The last 15 months have been filled with both angst and mourning.
“I lost a cousin in the war. He was one of the first responders and he died, unfortunately. So, this is really close to me. Also, I know a lot of people, like friends and some were even kidnapped. One, she’s been to and survived the Nova party.”
The fragility of the ceasefire is a major source of concern for those awaiting the return of the hostages.
While she doesn’t have any connection to the recently returned hostage Emily Damari, her joy is all the same.
“I don’t have a personal link to her but to be honest we all feel connected somehow, it’s part of us as a nation…I think we are very close together and in hard times you get even closer.”
Yet she doubts whether the ceasefire will hold.
“I did live in Israel before. I’m not very hopeful about peace. As much as I want there to be peace, I know that over there something is always going to happen. This is not going to be sorted so easily.”
No rest for campaigners
In south-east London, Alia Al Ghussain finishes addressing a crowd of 60 pro-Palestine supporters.
Members of several groups including Lewisham Muslim Voice, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Black Liberation Alliance are gathered outside of Lewisham Council building.
They want Lewisham Council to divest funds from companies that they allege are complicit in supporting Israeli war crimes.
Alia Al Ghussain welcomes a halt to the fighting but believes it has taken far too long to get to this point.
Alia, a Palestinian who lives in Lewisham, works for Amnesty International. Most of her family have left Gaza but a few cousins remain.
Her initial response to the ceasefire is one of relief and frustration: “I’m really glad there is a ceasefire, but I think it took way too long to get to this point.”
Her relatives that are still in Gaza have told her of their overwhelming happiness, but also of their sorrow.
They have told her first hand of the mass destruction brought about by the conflict and the loss of both family and friends.
The emergence of ceasefire won’t stop her or those gathered from protesting.
“The fact that there are more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners to be released in just one go, really shows the power differential between the two sides”, she said.
“I think everyone should be able to go home but I think if the Israeli government really cared about the hostages they would have reached a deal much sooner.”
The day before the ceasefire began over 70 individuals were arrested in central London under suspicion of breaching protest conditions. Next week various pro-Palestinian groups will continue rally across London.
A way forward
Rabbi Hershel Gluck is the founder of the Muslim-Jewish Forum, which started in 2000 to improve relations between Muslims and Jews.
He has worked as a mediator for Century Foundation, building peace and reconciliation in regions suffering from conflict.
Rabbi Herschel Gluck OBE is no stranger to the fragility of ceasefires in war torn countries.
His message is clear: “It certainly gives breathing space for desperate people that find themselves in a terrible humanitarian situation.
“And whilst there are strong pressures undermining the ceasefire by both parties feeling deep pain about what has been happening in the region. I’m hopeful that this will give a window, please God, for people to consider how best to move forward in a constructive way.”
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StandfirstCity News spoke to Londoners about their thoughts and feelings over the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel
Londoners are celebrating a much-anticipated ceasefire between Hamas and Israel after 474 days of near-continuous fighting.
On Monday, the first three Israeli hostages were returned as part of the agreement.
British-Israeli national Emily Damari, who was taken from her home in southern Israel on 7 October 2023, was one of those released.
She belongs to a larger group of 33 hostages who will be exchanged for about 1,900 Palestinians during the first phase of the ceasefire.
But Israelis and Palestinians all over the world are watching these events with apprehension.
Many fear a resumption of violence will ruin the much hoped for opportunity for hostages and prisoners from both sides to return home.
Ceasefires between the two side are notoriously fragile, and previous attempts during the conflict have ended in failure.
City News spoke to Londoners about their reactions to the agreement and what they anticipate might happen next.
Celebration and mourning
In the kosher restaurant where she works in north-west London, Joanne describes her emotions surrounding the ceasefire.
“It’s such a relief to be honest. I’m really happy that something is finally happening”, she said.
She has family and friends in Israel, where she spent part of her childhood and returns to several times a year. The last 15 months have been filled with both angst and mourning.
“I lost a cousin in the war. He was one of the first responders and he died, unfortunately. So, this is really close to me. Also, I know a lot of people, like friends and some were even kidnapped. One, she’s been to and survived the Nova party.”
The fragility of the ceasefire is a major source of concern for those awaiting the return of the hostages.
While she doesn’t have any connection to the recently returned hostage Emily Damari, her joy is all the same.
“I don’t have a personal link to her but to be honest we all feel connected somehow, it’s part of us as a nation…I think we are very close together and in hard times you get even closer.”
Yet she doubts whether the ceasefire will hold.
“I did live in Israel before. I’m not very hopeful about peace. As much as I want there to be peace, I know that over there something is always going to happen. This is not going to be sorted so easily.”
No rest for campaigners
In south-east London, Alia Al Ghussain finishes addressing a crowd of 60 pro-Palestine supporters.
Members of several groups including Lewisham Muslim Voice, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Black Liberation Alliance are gathered outside of Lewisham Council building.
They want Lewisham Council to divest funds from companies that they allege are complicit in supporting Israeli war crimes.
Alia Al Ghussain welcomes a halt to the fighting but believes it has taken far too long to get to this point.
Alia, a Palestinian who lives in Lewisham, works for Amnesty International. Most of her family have left Gaza but a few cousins remain.
Her initial response to the ceasefire is one of relief and frustration: “I’m really glad there is a ceasefire, but I think it took way too long to get to this point.”
Her relatives that are still in Gaza have told her of their overwhelming happiness, but also of their sorrow.
They have told her first hand of the mass destruction brought about by the conflict and the loss of both family and friends.
The emergence of ceasefire won’t stop her or those gathered from protesting.
“The fact that there are more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners to be released in just one go, really shows the power differential between the two sides”, she said.
“I think everyone should be able to go home but I think if the Israeli government really cared about the hostages they would have reached a deal much sooner.”
The day before the ceasefire began over 70 individuals were arrested in central London under suspicion of breaching protest conditions. Next week various pro-Palestinian groups will continue rally across London.
A way forward
Rabbi Hershel Gluck is the founder of the Muslim-Jewish Forum, which started in 2000 to improve relations between Muslims and Jews.
He has worked as a mediator for Century Foundation, building peace and reconciliation in regions suffering from conflict.
Rabbi Herschel Gluck OBE is no stranger to the fragility of ceasefires in war torn countries.
His message is clear: “It certainly gives breathing space for desperate people that find themselves in a terrible humanitarian situation.
“And whilst there are strong pressures undermining the ceasefire by both parties feeling deep pain about what has been happening in the region. I’m hopeful that this will give a window, please God, for people to consider how best to move forward in a constructive way.”
