STORY: Ceasefire deal brings Gaza residents hope of rebuilding lives after war
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 15, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 16, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:52
LOCATION: GAZA, Palestine
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED AHMED, Palestinian resident
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): EMAD ABED, Palestinian resident
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): SALEM AL-RAYES, Palestinian resident
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): IBRAHIM ALI, Palestinian resident

STORYLINE:

Israel and Hamas agreed to a Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal on Wednesday.

The agreement includes an initial 42-day phase during which more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza will halt.

Just before the ceasefire deal was reached, many displaced people in Gaza expressed their earnest desire to return home.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED AHMED, Palestinian resident
"As soon as the truce is announced, I will return to (my home in) Gaza on foot and kiss the walls of my house. I want to kiss my bed, my kitchen, and my belongings. I have a house where I can sleep and live my life in peace instead of living in a tent."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): EMAD ABED, Palestinian resident
"As soon as the truce is announced, I will go to my friend's grave, bury him, and cry over him, because he was killed without saying goodbye. I want to meet my loved ones and family and hope to return soon."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): SALEM AL-RAYES, Palestinian resident
"I hope (for the ceasefire) so impatiently and I hope that we can return to our home, to our land, and to our lives."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): IBRAHIM ALI, Palestinian resident
"As soon as the truce is announced, I will return to Shujaiya (in Gaza) and put dirt on my head."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gaza, Palestine.
(XHTV)