"Christmas Mass was celebrated on Wednesday at the Holy Family Church in eastern Gaza City, marking the first such service since the war in the Gaza Strip came to a halt. Footage shows worshippers arriving at the church ahead of the service, with hymns sung and scripture read during the prayers. Amal Hilal, a worshipper, expressed cautious optimism, saying: “I feel deeply grateful that we have begun returning to our normal lives, and to optimism and love after two years of brokenness, exhaustion, and destruction.” For others, the return of the celebration was bittersweet. Nouzar Tarazi said: “The holiday atmosphere in the church has returned to how it was before the war. I will not celebrate, as I lost my daughter.” Another worshipper, Elias Al-Jaldi, said this year carried a different meaning after two years of conflict. “This year is a year of hope, optimism, and reflection, that we can move forward with rebuilding Gaza, improving conditions, and returning to normal life in Gaza City,” he said. The service followed the ceasefire agreement reached between Hamas and Israel, which came into effect on Friday, October 10, under the framework of the 20-point 'Trump Plan'. The agreement includes an immediate halt to the fighting, the release of all hostages, both living and deceased, and the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave. "