Palestinian expats in the United Arab Emirates expressed cautious optimism on Wednesday following the announcement of a comprehensive ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, after 15 months of conflict that has claimed over 46,000 Palestinian lives.
The deal, set to take effect on Sunday, outlines a six-week initial ceasefire with provisions for hostage releases, prisoner exchanges, and a surge in humanitarian aid to Gaza, where most of the pre-war population of 2.3 million has been displaced.
“I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders,” Palestinian expat Saed Ereiqat, founder of Pitch Storm, told Arabian Business.
“The last year has been hard for Palestinians around the world, with constant worry for loved ones and concern for the state of the country. At times, it felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel as the death toll kept rising and intervention efforts did not succeed.”
The complex phased accord comes as Israeli airstrikes continued on Wednesday evening, with Palestinian medical authorities reporting at least 32 people killed in strikes on Gaza City and northern Gaza. Mediators are working to halt hostilities before the official start of the truce.
Nagham Dahbour, a Palestinian-Jordanian author based in the UAE, described the agreement as “very bittersweet.”
“It is bitter because a lot of the conditions were the exact same conditions from last year – a lot of suffering, a lot of deaths could have been avoided,” she said. “And then it’s ‘sweet’ because first of all, for the people of Gaza, they will have time to grieve, to bury their dead, to have a breather and to start to process the magnitude of the loss.”
“Life is already tough as it is for all humans, you know, we have our daily stuff to deal with, and to add all that suffering from war is just too difficult and too sad,” Dahbour shared.
Under the first phase of the agreement, 33 Israeli hostages – including all women, children, and men over 50 – will be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The deal also requires 600 truckloads of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza daily during the ceasefire, with 300 trucks allocated to the north.
“For us in the diaspora, we’ve been so focused on amplifying their voices, keep the momentum and so for us it’s a little break of also grieving and processing the trauma of what we have been witnessing,” said Dahbour.
For 23-year-old Yousef Hussein, who works at an airport in the UAE, the news brought a measure of relief. “It’s not over yet but Alhamdulilah, it’s a step forward to less Palestinians being murdered, and less fear of family being killed.”
“Each day, the heartbreaking news from Gaza weighed heavily on me – countless lives lost, injuries, hostages, and the severe shortage of essentials like food, water, and medicine,” said Dubai-based founder and CTO of IOT Plus Middle East, Mahmoud Al Charif, 41.
“While I remain cautiously optimistic about the ceasefire, I can only hope it holds long enough to create lasting peace.”
Despite the severe toll of the conflict, which has seen hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians struggling through winter in tents and makeshift shelters, expatriates emphasised their enduring hope for peace.
“There will always be hope. The resilience of the people of Gaza has proved that to the world,” said Ereiqat.
“People of my generation that grew up in Palestine have lived through constant wars, sieges and occupation. I pray that the next generation ushers in an era of peace.”
Dahbour, who is working on a series of coffee table books celebrating the Levant region, echoed this sentiment. “No matter where we are as Palestinians, we always have hope. Even if everything looks so dark and so bleak, we always have hope. It’s what keeps us going and every generation is the same.”
“I wanted to put all my grief and pain into something that was beautiful and hopeful,” said Dahbour, speaking of her book project. “Some people sing, some people draw, some people go out and do campaigning, whatever it may be, but for me that was my way of showing and inspiring others that even for someone like me who is in a lot of pain and trauma can turn it into something that is tangible.”
The path ahead remains complex, with negotiations for the second phase of the deal – including the release of all remaining hostages and a permanent ceasefire – set to begin by the 16th day of the initial phase. A third phase is expected to address the return of remaining bodies and the start of Gaza’s reconstruction, supervised by Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.
Success of the ceasefire agreement could mark a turning point for Gaza, where intense fighting has devastated urban areas and forced the majority of its 2.3 million pre-war residents from their homes.
Beyond Gaza’s borders, a sustained truce could ease regional tensions that have sparked conflicts across the Middle East, from the West Bank to Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, while alleviating concerns of a potential escalation between Israel and Iran.
For Al Charif, the ceasefire could signal broader regional transformation.
“Recent developments in Syria and Lebanon offer hope for the entire region. With leadership changes and a shared vision for eocnomic growth, there is a growing sense that stability may be within reach,” Al Charif told Arabian Business.
“Palestinians can draw strength from these transformations, knowing that even in the face of prolonged injustice, the will of the people can ultimately lead to change.”
However, significant challenges lie ahead, as Palestinians, Arab nations, and Israel must forge a comprehensive vision for Gaza’s future, including complex negotiations over security arrangements and the massive investment needed for reconstruction.
“It is important to confront the root causes of the conflict and take meaningful steps to prevent further bloodshed,” added Al Charif.
“My deepest wish is to see Palestine liberated, with lasting peace and prosperity for future generations. This must be the last chapter of suffering, so that our children can grow up in a world where peace, happiness, and opportunity are the norm, not the expectation.”
The question of Gaza’s future governance remains unresolved, a particularly sensitive issue given the conflict’s origins in the October 7, 2023 attack, when Hamas breached Israeli security barriers, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 Israeli soldiers and civilians, and the taking of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Follow us on
