Israel-Hamas ceasefire hits close to home for Louisville residents with ties to the region

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A U.S. brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is bringing celebration overseas, and emotions for those in Louisville with deep ties to the region.

Overnight, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire plan that includes the release of all hostages held by Hamas, a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

“When I woke up it was the first thing that I saw,” said Travis Kircher, a former WDRB web producer now reporting from Israel with WORLD News Group. Kircher has been covering the conflict for the past month.

“I’ve spoken with several hostage families, I’ve spoken with at least one former hostage, and they just want their loved ones home — that’s all they can think about,” Kircher said.

In Tel Aviv, Kircher said hundreds filled Hostage Square to celebrate the deal.

“People were singing, people were dancing, there was somebody handing out glasses of champagne,” he said.

Kircher said many Israelis have grown used to life in a war zone. While covering a protest outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s house, Kircher said air raid sirens suddenly went off.

“Maybe half of them did what they were supposed to do and sat down,” Kircher said. “The other half just laughed and went on with their day.”

Back in Louisville, University of Louisville students held a vigil for Palestinian lives lost, writing names in chalk and surrounding them with candles.

One student, Maryam, said her family lives in the West Bank.

“I have lost family members in this genocide,” she said. “They experience bombings all of the time, they experience sieges on their homes.”

Maryam called the ceasefire a great first step, but said true peace will take time.

“Cautious optimism is a good word for what’s happening right now,” she said.

Kircher agreed the situation remains complex.

“There’s no easy answer for a lot of the things people are dealing with,” he said.

For many, this first phase of the ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope after a dark time in the region.

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