Adil Alshalchi
Appearances
Up First from NPR
Inauguration Day, Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, TikTok
Well, after 15 months of grief, everyone was actually nervous it wouldn't happen. But then from the moment the ceasefire did go into effect, almost three hours late, you could feel this collective sigh of relief just blanket the country.
Up First from NPR
Inauguration Day, Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, TikTok
It was a day of tears, jubilation, embraces for Israelis seeing the three hostages released, for Palestinians in Gaza who got a respite from the fighting, and for those in the West Bank reuniting with their imprisoned relatives.
Up First from NPR
Inauguration Day, Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, TikTok
Well, it was bitterly cold there and families bundled up waiting for hours, waving Palestinian flags. There was singing, people held balloons. People had also been confused for a long time about when and how the detainees were going to be released. My colleague Kat Lonsdorf was in Ramallah and told us that around two in the morning, buses pulled up and dozens of detainees got out.
Up First from NPR
Inauguration Day, Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, TikTok
And then the crowd pushed and pulled, chanted, danced and fireworks decorated the sky.
Up First from NPR
Inauguration Day, Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, TikTok
Yeah, so the hostages were Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher, all between the ages of 24 and 31. They were brought in on helicopters. Some of their friends were there. And we could hear these shouts of happiness ring in the hospital halls when they saw each other. Emily Cohen spoke on behalf of the Damari family.
Up First from NPR
Inauguration Day, Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, TikTok
Well, in the morning when the ceasefire took effect, Palestinians blasted their music from their homes. They cheered, honked their car horns, and then the skies went silent for the first time in months. The past few days had actually been some of the deadliest, with dozens killed in Israeli airstrikes.
Up First from NPR
Inauguration Day, Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, TikTok
Also, we know that more than 600 trucks of desperately needed aid rolled into Gaza, according to the United Nations. And as Israeli troops partially withdrew from parts of the north, some displaced Palestinians made their way back to see what was left of their homes. Our producer in Gaza, Enes Baba, spoke with one of them. Here's Tamer Al-Akul.
Up First from NPR
Inauguration Day, Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, TikTok
It's an unimaginable happiness, he says, like I stumbled on a million dollars. But Hamas was very quick to send a message that it's still in charge of Gaza. We saw videos of Hamas police organizing aid distribution, patrolling the streets, and there were masked militants parading in the neighborhoods.
Up First from NPR
Inauguration Day, Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, TikTok
This phase of the ceasefire is six weeks. Another swap is expected on Saturday. Hamas is supposed to release four more hostages. But you know, Palestinians in Gaza have suffered so much loss and devastation. Israelis are desperate to start healing from the worst attack on their country. So many people here just want the war to end.