Gaza’s Next Chapter: From Ceasefire to Rebuilding a Broken City
Recently, a ceasefire has been implemented, with 20 surviving Israeli hostages released by Hamas and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel. Humanitarian conditions are alarming; the United Nations plans to surge aid into Gaza in the first 60 days.
When the first trucks crossed the Rafah border on the morning of October 10th, carrying sacks of flour and boxes of medical supplies, the crowd broke into applause. Hostages returned to what used to be their home, in turn into debris of concrete. But they thank God that at least they are still alive to see it.
This story reflects the experiences of thousands of people who have emerged from two years of conflict and displacement. As the long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas takes effect from this October, Gaza stands at a crossroads between hopes and possibilities for their future.
1. The Ceasefire: That Stopped the Guns
The mediation, finalized on 9th October and validated by Israel's cabinet a day later, included the release of the remaining 20 alive Israeli hostages held by Hamas since 2023 at the beginning of the war.
In exchange, 2,000 Palestinian prisoners were also freed, many of them were young protestors or activists arrested in West Bank raids or protests. A credible source, The Guardian, reported that the deal was carried out through a temporary stoppage of military operations and the opening of corridors for UN side convoys.
For many, the images of families reuniting on both sides of the border were a heartwarming and powerful symbol. Reuters also stated that, ceasefire is only a halt in the noise, not the end of suffering.
2. A City of Shadows
Data from the InSAR satellite damage survey conducted earlier this year showed that more than two-thirds of Gaza's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed. Once filled with joyful neighborhoods of Gaza City, it now appears as a concrete desert.
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| Smoke billows during a sunset over a City Photo by Liana S on Unsplash |
Key infrastructure, like hospitals, lies in ruins, water sources are scant, and electricity remains unreliable. UNRWA's latest report describes the current humanitarian scenarios as disastrous. More than 50% of the population remains displaced.
Temporary clinics in Rafah are run without supplies like anesthesia and with only one working generator. Casualties are to be treated within the limited resources, which affect the treatment process.
3. The price of Rebuilding
Before the war, Gaza's economy was on life support. Now, with an estimation from the UN, the total tally of damage is $45 billion. The reconstruction process could take decades or more.
UN is planning to facilitate humanitarian aid within as early as 60 days of the ceasefire, prioritizing areas like schools, hospitals, and water resources. Previous wars have shown that the challenge is not only money but its management.
"Reconstruction is power," says Dr. Nidaa Abu Jamel, an urban planner now working with an international NGO, and power is exactly what Gaza doesn't have right now.
4. Memory, Trauma, and the Human Horizon
Beyond politics and policies, the emotional toll of the war defines quantification. Estimates of 36000 Palestinians have been killed since 2023, according to the health ministry of Gaza, while Israeli citizens remain scarred from rocket attacks, loss, and trauma.
In an UNRWA school turned shelter, a 9-year-old boy named Yasmeen keeps a small piece of paper. Each paper shows a house she remembers from her surroundings. Every residence is missing one of its roofs or walls. It's a small act of imagination, but in Gaza it has itself become a form of defiance.
5. The Unfinished Peace
What comes next will depend not only on the limits to politicians but also on the persistence of people, those who continue to live, heal, and rebuild even when the world forgets.
International attention may fade after a few years. Narratives may shift, funding may stop, yet for Gaza, the real story begins after the headlines melt.
Reconstruction must go hand in hand with accountability of war and transparency in aid distribution. But after a long time, the night sky above Gaza is quiet, or just another pause, depending on how the world listens to it.
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