Palestinians and Jews in Catalonia greet Israel-Hamas deal, but worry about fruition

The Palestinian and the Jewish communities in Catalonia welcomed the deal between Israel and Hamas to put an end to the war in Gaza. However, they are worried about the fruition of the agreement between the two parties.

Speaking to the Catalan News Agency (ACN), Palestinian Salah Jamal said that the deal was negotiated from a "humanitarian" point of view.

"It is a relief that they have stopped killing people, especially civilians, as everyone knows that 90% of the victims are civilians," Jamal told ACN in Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Jewish rabbi David Libersohn, of Barcelona's Chabad-Lubavitch community, said that the deal is a "first step" toward a peaceful coexistence.

"We must celebrate that there is a deal, and this is already an important step, as it will open a path we can possibly walk together," Libersohn said in Barcelona after opening a sukkah, a temporary hut for the week-long Sukkot holiday, in Ciutat Vella.

He also blessed bread and wine, following the 3,300-year-old tradition.

For him, "willingness has to come from both sides." He claims that the Jewish community has some doubts in terms of who will lead Gaza, as "Hamas wants to keep ruling," he said, so "there is something that does not add up."

But he wished that both societies could "live in peace," as all the agreements "need time to be built, and this is achieved step-by-step."

Palestinians are also "relieved" of the deal reached between Hamas and Israel. However, they fear Israel could restart the military operations once Hamas returns part of the hostages. Something already seen back in March.

Back then, negotiations for a "second phase" were halted.

"As they broke the ceasefire four or five times before, everyone is uncertain of what they will do next," Jamal said. He noticed that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has more "pressure" from the international community, and that the Israeli society is "exhausted."

"The global public opinion has clearly seen what kind of state [Israel] really is," he added.

He said that the situation in Gaza has "broken Europe" and that the European Union "does not have any role in the Middle East's governance."