Anchorage reacts to the Gaza ceasefire deal, in addition to cautious optimism. Members of Anchorage’s Muslim and Jewish communities voiced enthusiasm for a possible peace agreement for Gaza. US, Qatar, Hamas, and President Joe Biden’s negotiators reported progress on a ceasefire deal on Wednesday.
The agreement may go into force on Sunday despite not being approved. According to the local community leaders, the news calls for vigilance but also brings hope. Anchorage Lawyer Heather Barbour said, “We’re ecstatic. It’s great news. It’s long overdue.”
She further stated that this decision gives people a glimmer of hope after all the devastation the people of Gaza have gone through. Barbour also focused on the need for justice moving forward; she stated that accountability and investigations are essential for healing.
Rabbi Abram Goodstein and the leader of Congregation Beth Shalom in Anchorage shared similar sentiments and expressed cautious hope. He stated, “First of all, excitement, yes, the ceasefire is so important to move forward, but trepidation because you know, throughout Israel’s history, we’ve had lots of ceasefire deals, and not all of them have worked out.”
Anchorage’s Jewish and Muslim communities have felt the conflict’s ripple effects. Many local Palestinian families mourn relatives killed in Gaza. Similarly, members of Anchorage’s Jewish community are connected to Israel and have experienced heightened antisemitism.
“Every Jewish community has a relationship with Israel one way or another,” Goodstein stated. Despite political divides, Barbour and Goodstein praised Anchorage’s interfaith relationships. After the Hamas attacks on October 7th, members of Barbour’s mosque attended memorials at Temple Beth Shalom. As the deal approaches, Anchorage reacts to the Gaza ceasefire, and community members remain hopeful for peace in Gaza and Worldwide.
This news article was originally published by Alaska’s News Source.
