Gaza Journalists Speak Out as Ceasefire Arrives: “We May Have Survived Physically, But Not Mentally”

October 10, 2025 – Palestine –

As a fragile ceasefire took hold in Gaza, five journalists—four based inside Gaza and one in exile—shared haunting reflections on the physical, emotional, and moral toll of covering a conflict they describe as genocide.

The truce, implemented midday Friday, marked a pause in the bombardment and an opportunity for many displaced civilians to return north. But for journalists, the ceasefire also signals a reckoning with what they have endured—and what lies ahead.

In Gaza City, Huda Skaik described a tremor of cautious hope when she first heard the news. For the first time in years, the skies were clear, and the threat of airstrikes dimmed. But she added: “We may have survived physically, but we haven’t survived mentally. This genocide lives inside us.”

Abdel Qader Sabbah, speaking from Deir al-Balah, said that while past ceasefires repeatedly fell apart, this one show “a degree of seriousness.” Yet the relief is “incomplete,” for he has already lost loved ones, his home, and years of safety.

In Nuseirat, Rasha Abou Jalal, recently displaced from Gaza City, recalled the moment she told her children that the bombing had stopped. She held back tears as rain fell— “I wanted the rain to wash away traces of this war,” she said.

In Deir al-Balah, Sara Awad expressed ambivalence: “So many promises are being made. But why do I feel nothing?” After months of bracing for the next bomb, belief has been dulled by constant uncertainty.

Their testimony captures both relief and sorrow. While airstrikes paused and partial withdrawals occurred, the damage remains immense: shattered cities, obliterated infrastructure, and communities traumatized beyond measure. These journalists, bearing witness in one of the world’s most dangerous theatres, convey a singular truth: even when the guns fall silent, the scars echo in silence.

Reference – 

https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/gaza-journalists-reflect-ceasefire-genocide