Cease-fire brings hope to weary residents of Gaza

• Rockets mark the last spasms of war
• Some Gazans are afraid to rebuild
• Grieving families bury their dead

GAZA – Honking horns filled the streets and celebratory gunfire burst across Gaza City as people celebrated a cease-fire Wednesday night and what they believe were successes for Hamas.

"We can say this has been a real effort by people doing their duty," said Youssef al-Zahar, who manages civil defense services in the Gaza Strip.

"We are happy because Hamas and Islamic Jihad are successful against Netanyahu and the Israeli government," said Umm Sohayib, 40, celebrating with her children in the streets. "Israel fired at us and Hamas protected itself. That says to Israel: don't do that again to people in Gaza."

"We will not accept that they can kill anyone at any moment," said Maamon Khozendar, a prominent businessman in Gaza, adding that this is the first time Tel Aviv was attacked in two decades.

"Everyone knows that the people of Gaza are unbreakable," Khozendar said.

"Death to Israel!" crowds chanted as ambulances drove by carrying medical personnel waving the "V" sign for victory. People waved Fatah and Hamas flags and children joined the celebrations.

In a week of fighting, Israel launched more than 1,500 airstrikes and other attacks on targets in Gaza, while more than 1,000 rockets pounded Israel.

In all, more than 140 Palestinians, including dozens of civilians, were killed, while five Israelis died in the fighting.

In last-minute spasms of war Wednesday evening, Palestinian militants fired several bursts of rockets. One rocket hit a house in the southern city of Beersheba. No injuries were reported.

According to a copy of the cease-fire agreement obtained by the Associated Press, Israel and all Palestinian militant groups agreed to halt "all hostilities."

For the Palestinians, that means an end to Israeli airstrikes and assassinations of wanted militants. For Israel, it brings a halt to rocket fire and attempts at cross-border incursions from Gaza.

The sense of relief was palpable as soon as word of an imminent cease-fire spread, raising hope among Gazans that neighbors, friends and loved ones would be safe and life could move on.

"We hope the peace will continue and there will be a cease-fire all the time," said Hossam Ali, a sound technician. "All our children are very happy. We were afraid before, and now we feel safe."

The faces of people in one Gaza home brightened upon hearing the news on Al-Jazeera. A boy jumped and clapped, and the family smiled.

"Khalas, enough!" said Ghada Mohammad Nasser, 39, mother of three. "I'm very happy if there is a cease-fire. I'm against war anywhere in the world."

Palestinian gunmen in Gaza fired into the air in celebration. At schools run by the United Nations in Gaza, where thousands had fled for protection, children and parents cheered and clapped.

Still, the scene in some quarters echoed those after similar announcements Tuesday — which preceded some of the worst violence since the crisis began last week.

"We witnessed a drastic escalation by Israel," Raji Sourani, director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza, said Wednesday. "Last night was the worst night since the war began."

After a 24-hour cooling off-period, the deal calls for "opening the crossings and facilitating the movement of people and transfer of goods, and refraining from restricting residents' free movement."

Most Gazans were clear on who they held responsible for the failure of Tuesday night's cease-fire.

"The Israelis are the ones to blame — they are attacking Palestinians," said Mohammed Al Dalo, the uncle of four children who were killed in Nasir Street on Sunday.

Hundreds of people paid respect to Al Dalo's family at their funeral Tuesday, where photographs of the children were flanked by Hamas and Palestinian flags.

This time around, hopes were high that the truce would succeed — even if only temporarily.

"The Egyptians are making big efforts for implementing a truce, and they asked for a 24-hour cease-fire between both sides," said Hamas spokesman Ihab Al Gosain.

Whether the truce holds for a day or as a more lasting agreement, many Palestinians are weary of the inevitable repetition of violence.

Mohammed Dalol carried piles of blankets, while his six sons lugged the family's luggage as they moved out of the neighborhood of Al Ziton, which has been hit heavily in recent days.

"This is a horrible life. Every couple of years, we do the same, evacuate and sleep over someone else's house," Dalol said. "I rebuilt my house after the previous war on Gaza Strip. I'm afraid to rebuild it again.

"But I fear more for my children's safety," he said.

Contributing: Michael Scaturro in Berlin.