The first words Salama sent me this morning, 9 October, were:
Good morning and happiness my friend May. Since yesterday I have been trying to congratulate you that the war will stop but the internet connection was very difficult. The ceasefire is expected to take effect today. We are expected to be allowed to return to Gaza (City) tomorrow or in a few days. We hope that the ceasefire agreement will be reached without any obstacles. God saved us from a war in which we almost died several times.
Together, through text messages, we celebrate. Hopefully, they are finally safe now. I also believe that God has saved them from death many times. Through another source in Gaza, I heard on the morning of 9 October that the ceasefire has indeed taken effect. Let that truly be the case and let the genocide not resume. Let humanitarian aid flood Gaza. May the hostages and people and children held in Palestinian prisons without charge all be released soon. May there be real peace in Gaza, in the West Bank and in Israel, throughout the world, where every human life counts.
I also congratulate Yael Braudo-Bahat, co-director of Women Wage Peace. Women Wage Peace has 50,000 members and is a large Israeli grassroots movement for peace in Israel. She points me to their official statement:
A morning of excitement mixed with apprehension. We wait with bated breath and follow closely to ensure this is really happening. We are waiting to see everyone embraced in the arms of their family members or returning to the land they loved. To see our soldiers getting back to their routine and to see the beginning of the rehabilitation of Gaza. We are sad for all those for whom this is too late. And above all – preparing for the continuation of the journey until the longed-for peace agreement arrives.
It is clear that these are only first steps. It is indeed very sad for all those people who have already died and their families. The reconstruction of Gaza must also take place. Let us also ensure that the voices of local peace-loving people in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel are heard. They need to live together and know the language and culture. In her book The Frontlines of Peace, Professor Séverine Autesserre states that large-scale, expensive international interventions are not necessary to build lasting peace. Lasting peace means putting local residents in the driver’s seat.
A member of the Peace SOS team indicates that there is still a lot of pain and trauma. That will indeed need to be healed. I am still looking for ways to see if a few injured children who cannot be treated in Gaza can be treated in the Netherlands, but that is not easy.
In short, there is still a long way to go, but there is every reason to be hopeful. I hope that we will take care of each other and nature. That we invest in peace through peaceful means and stand up for the most vulnerable. Hopefully, there will soon be: A World Where All Children Can Play.
Author: May-May Meijer, founder Peace SOS
Photo: People in Gaza celebrating the ceasefire, photo via Salama, date 9 October 2025
Note: This article was published in Dutch under the title: De familie van Salama in Gaza viert feest vanwege een eind aan de oorlog on the Joop BNNVARA website on 9 October 2025.