STORY: Palestinians celebrate ceasefire as hope returns to Gaza
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 16, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 17, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:56
LOCATION: GAZA, Palestine/Damascus
CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Palestinians
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED NASSAR, Palestinian resident
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): KHADER ESAM, Palestinian resident
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): ABDULLAH SALHA, Palestinian resident
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): FADI KAMAL NASSAR, Palestinian resident

STORYLINE:

Palestinians in Gaza expressed their hope to return to their houses once the ceasefire takes effect on Sunday.

On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas agreed to a Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal after intensive mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED NASSAR, Palestinian resident
"I am very happy with the ceasefire because we have escaped death. Every day we were dying and now we have escaped death. I hope that peace will prevail in Gaza, the crossings will be opened, and we will live without wars instead of death and killing. I hope that countries will support us and the Palestinian state will be established."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): KHADER ESAM, Palestinian resident
"I hope that things will go well and that there will be no more killing, especially with the Israeli army continuing to kill even after the ceasefire."
   
SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): ABDULLAH SALHA, Palestinian resident
"This is excellent because the blood has been spared and the losses of our people have been reduced. I hope it will go well."
   
SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): FADI KAMAL NASSAR, Palestinian resident 
"It is a good thing that the ceasefire has taken place. At least the blood has been spared and prices have started to go down. God willing, things will be good."

In Syria, hundreds of Palestinian refugees gathered at a refugee camp, south of the capital Damascus on Thursday, waving Palestinian flags to celebrate the ceasefire deal.

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