Thousands of Palestinians are returning to devastated homes in Northern Gaza. But the ceasefire almost collapsed this past weekend. Can it be sustained? Dahlia Scheindlin , public opinion researcher and international political strategist. Policy fellow at The Century Foundation. Leila Farsakh , professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Andrew Miller , senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.
Department of State from to Two more phases of the agreement are yet to be determined. The first phase, involving the exchange of hostages and the end of violence, began on Sunday, January 19th. He said, quote: "If we must return to fighting, we will do that in new, forceful ways," end quote. And then he added, quote, "We reserve the right to return to fighting if needed, with the backing of the United States," end quote.
The ceasefire proved fragile, even before it had begun. Nevertheless, the effort was celebrated. So it was like a dream. AMER: It was very hard, really very hard, because every second you feel like in danger. There's bombing around you, and there's suffering with the lack of food, lack of water, lack of electricity. It's not easy for the people in Gaza. Because they lose everything, their works, their lives, their future, their schools and universities and homes and everything.
Still, Ruwaida says that since the ceasefire began, the lives of everyday Gazans have significantly changed. I miss you. I want to meet you. But I said no, we need to wait until the ceasefire. We can move. And save so we can meet us. These days I can meet my friends, my students, my loved people without any worry about my life or their lives. Ruwaida, though, says she still hopes one day it will come. AMER: We don't want to go back to the war, no.
Back to the bombing, back to lack of food, back to be not safe, no. We want this ceasefire to be forever, enough, yeah. The people in Gaza want to, back to their life.
