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“I didn’t recognize Ibrahim at first. He has lost a significant amount of weight and even his teeth,” remarked Mona, a neurosurgeon who relocated to Sydney from Gaza with her family in March 2024.
Ibrahim’s family attributes his drastic weight loss to the two years he spent in an Israeli prison.
“It was an indescribable joy, thank God,” expressed Khalil, mentioning that Ibrahim’s first question was why Khalil wasn’t there to greet him in Gaza.
According to the United Nations, 78% of the structures in the Gaza Strip have suffered partial or complete destruction due to Israel’s ongoing assaults over the past two years.
Members of Sydney’s Jewish community attended an official commemoration of the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Sydney on Sunday. This year, 7 October fell on the first day of the Jewish festival of Sukkot. Source: AAP / Sittixay Ditthavong
The next day, hundreds gathered in Melbourne’s east to watch their release broadcast live.
“But maybe after today with the release of the hostages, it’s time for a new era and time for a new era of peace,” Levin said.
Jewish Community Council of Victoria CEO Naomi Levin joined hundreds at an event in Melbourne’s east on Monday to follow live coverage of the events in Israel. Source: SBS News
Khalil also hopes the ceasefire marks the beginning of a new chapter.
“The Palestinian people have had enough … so I hope that it will be a comprehensive and honest deal, and that it will be carried out in the best possible way, with the support of the sponsoring countries.”
