A small crowd came together in Melbourne’s north – sharing plates of food and dancing to Palestinian music – to celebrate the moment the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was due to come into effect.
They cried hopeful tears as the deadline arrived at 5.30pm on Sunday (AEDT), but the truce was delayed by almost three hours because of an eleventh-hour dispute.
Supporters of the Palestinian cause gathered in Coburg North on Sunday in anticipation of the ceasefire. Credit: Penny Stephens
Hamas failed to provide the promised names of hostages set for release by an agreed deadline, blaming a “technical field issue”, but it later said it had provided three names. Israel announced soon afterwards that the ceasefire would start at 8.15pm (AEDT).
The turmoil did not interrupt the crowd of about 100 at Olive Tree Bakery in Coburg North. Children, surrounded by green, red, white and black balloons, had watermelons painted on their faces. At least a dozen people driving down Sydney Road honked their horns in solidarity.
Father of four Darwish Alqahwaji and his family arrived in Melbourne seven months ago, after leaving their lives behind in Gaza.
“I want to survive with my family,” he told The Age. “We lost everything.”
Alqahwaji said he was worried for Gaz
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