COOPER CITY, Fla. – From Capitol Hill to South Florida, reaction continues to pour in from across the world on the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Local 10 News’ Cody Weddle spoke to local Israeli and Palestinian Americans, with both sides cautiously celebrating the announcement.
As news spread about the ceasefire, and the pending release of hostages, Judith Ranaan shared her story as a hostage of Hamas.
“I was alarmed when I heard the Arabic voices getting closer to our room,” she said. “So I had a minute and a half to prepare our daughter for what was about to happen.”
The Israeli-American was visiting the country on October 7th with her 19 year-old daughter.
“So I said to her - listen honey, in about two minutes or less, men are going to enter this room,” she said. “‘Mom, I’m afraid to be raped.’”
Ranaan reacted to the ceasefire plans, with 33 Israeli hostages to be released initially.
“I will believe it when I see it,” she said. “I am waiting for the last one. No-one should be left behind over and it’s about time.”
Local Palestinian-Americans like Jay Shahadeh were also celebrating the cease-fire and hopeful to see an end to the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
“Forty-thousand killed is better than 50,000 killed,” he said. “I have mixed feelings in this sense we have 20,000 children that have been slaughtered by the state of Israel, I’m sad that 20,000 have been slaughtered, but I’m happy it’s not more than 20,000.”
Questions there are turning to how rebuild, with the United Nations estimating over 80% of buildings have been destroyed.
“There’s a lot of excitement over this being over,” said Shahadeh. “They’re really glad that the suffering will be reduced. Obviously the people in Gaza live in extreme conditions, and that’s before October 7th.”