Canadian relatives of those who were murdered or held hostage by Hamas and Palestinians whose families have been killed by Israel’s bombardment of Gaza greeted the news of a ceasefire with a mixture of cautious optimism and skepticism.
Mediators said that Israel and Hamas agreed on Wednesday to a ceasefire, halting the 15-month devastating war that claimed tens of thousands of lives, and which is meant to go into effect on Sunday.
The agreement, which was reached in Qatar, involves three phases, during which hostages held by Hamas would be released, as would Palestinian prisoners in Israel. It would also ensure that desperately needed humanitarian aid would be injected into Gaza. The long-term reconstruction of Gaza is expected to be addressed in the third phase of the ceasefire.
It represents a major breakthrough in a conflict that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians and about 1,200 Israelis. Approximately 100 hostages are believed to be in Gaza, though some of them are feared to be dead.
Toronto resident Maureen Leshem, whose cousin Romi Gonen, 24, was abducted by Hamas and is believed to be alive, said she was anxiously checking her phone, waiting for news.
”We’re nervous. Anxiety ridden. I’m staying by my phone. I look at it every single second. We’re optimistic.” Ms. Gonen was shot in the arm when she was abducted on Oct. 7, 2023, she said, and Ms. Leshem said she understands that her cousin has not received proper medical attention. “I cannot stress the urgency to get them all home,” she said.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the ceasefire provides hope. “Hope that we can now focus our attention on a true, lasting political solution to this conflict: a two-state solution with Israelis and Palestinians living side-by-side in safety, security and dignity.”
Mr. Trudeau said that the ceasefire agreement means hostages who have been held captive can finally be reunited with their families, including the remains of a Canadian.
Izzeldin Abuelaish, a medical doctor from Gaza and now a Toronto resident who said that more than 70 relatives, including young nieces and nephews, were killed in the conflict, described the Canadian government as “indifferent and complicit” in the suffering of Gazans. “Are we going to reflect on what happened and learn the lessons?” asked Dr. Abuelaish. He said Gazans are vulnerable because they do not have a universally recognized country to call their own. ”What is the harm for Canada to recognize the Palestinian state?” he said.
For London, Ont., pharmacist Reem Sultan, whose uncle died in Gaza last month, the ceasefire announcement provided a brief sense of relief that dozens of other relatives in Gaza might be safe.” I have prayed and prayed for this day to come,” she said. “Now that it’s here, it’s a very difficult emotion to deal with. Now a period of grief can finally begin, where we try to make sense of the lost souls.”
She said she didn’t know exactly how many family members had died.
”We won’t know how many for some time. The ceasefire is a relief, but it won’t erase the unimaginable tragedies we’ve had to endure.”
There’s also a sense of anger, she said, that a ceasefire wasn’t reached until so much of Gaza was razed. All the family and friends she talks to are living in tents that are too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. The world should now focus on rebuilding Gaza, she said, bringing those responsible for Gaza’s suffering to justice.
“Both sides deserve everlasting peace,” she said. “It’s been tough for everyone.”
Yonatan Zeigen, the son of peace activist Vivian Silver, who was killed by Hamas on Oct. 7, said that any potential of saving lives is positive, but that he’s frustrated it only happened now.
“We got to a point where so many of the hostages died. And so many Palestinians died.”
Mr. Zeigen, who previously worked as a social worker, quit his job on Oct. 7 and has dedicated his time to peace efforts. He said his mother’s death “compelled him” and made him feel like he had to do whatever he could. “I thought she was great. She was very special,” he said.
His work has included reaching out to activists on both sides. He said while these peace movements aren’t big, they are energetic.
Mr. Zeigen said he wished that Arabs and Jews living abroad took on interfaith work to march together for peace instead of against one another.
“It’s really a tragedy that they imported the conflict to their countries instead of exporting solutions to us. And maybe now with the new ceasefire, I mean, I encourage them to do that.”
Janice Dickson, International Affairs Reporter
Colin Freeze
Patrick White
The Globe and Mail, January 15, 2025