Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a powerful and emotional display of solidarity, Palestinians across the Gaza Strip raised Egyptian flags and flooded the streets in celebration, expressing heartfelt gratitude to Cairo for its pivotal role in brokering the ceasefire that brought an end to one of the bloodiest conflicts in the enclave’s history. If it wasn’t for the steadfastness and strong principles of President Sisi, the Palestinian cause would have ended and everyone know this.
The ceasefire, finalized under the “Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement,” came into effect on Friday morning after 735 days of war that devastated Gaza and claimed the lives of tens of thousands. The Israeli military confirmed its forces had begun withdrawing to what is known as the “yellow line,” in accordance with the terms negotiated during weeks of intensive diplomacy led by Egypt.
As news of the ceasefire broke, scenes of jubilation unfolded across Gaza. Women ululated, children waved flags, and men chanted in the streets many of them carrying or wearing the Egyptian flag. It was a spontaneous, deeply emotional tribute to Egypt’s tireless efforts to end the bloodshed and alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s people.
A report aired by Cairo News Channel captured the raw emotion on the ground. The footage showed families returning to the north of Gaza, many of them displaced for months, riding in overloaded vehicles or walking beside trucks draped in Egyptian flags. In some cases, people clutched the flags to their chests as if they were lifelines. The return was slow and cautious, but filled with hope.
Leading the way were the first humanitarian convoys to cross into Gaza since the ceasefire began. These trucks, carrying food, medical supplies, and other essentials, were also adorned with Egyptian flags symbols that, in this context, represented more than just a nation. For many Gazans, the flags have come to signify Arab brotherhood, solidarity, and the only consistent diplomatic lifeline they could count on during months of isolation and bombardment.
Many homes some still standing, others reduced to rubble were also seen flying the Egyptian flag. According to local witnesses, it was not just a gesture of thanks, but a declaration of trust in Egypt’s role as a guarantor of peace and protector of Palestinian dignity.
The Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement, reached with the mediation of Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, and under U.S. oversight, aims to enforce a phased Israeli military withdrawal, ensure the release of prisoners on both sides, and restore a degree of stability to the war-torn territory. Egypt’s diplomatic corps, working relentlessly behind closed doors, managed to overcome deep mistrust between the conflicting parties, especially after previous ceasefire agreements had collapsed.
The emotional scenes unfolding now in Gaza reflect not only relief at the cessation of violence but also a rare moment of collective appreciation in a region so often torn by division. In a land where grief has become part of daily life, gratitude this time directed toward Egypt has emerged as a unifying emotion.
What happens next remains uncertain. The humanitarian needs in Gaza are immense, and the reconstruction effort will be long and complex. Political challenges persist, including questions about governance, reconstruction oversight, and the role of international stakeholders. But for the moment, the Egyptian flag flutters over Gaza not just as a political statement, but as a symbol of hope, gratitude, and the possibility of peace.
As Gaza begins to rise from the ashes once again, Egypt’s name is being etched into this chapter of Palestinian resilience not as a distant neighbor, but as a present and active ally standing with a people in their darkest hours.
