The scenes of Gazans celebrating, in light of the ceasefire at 2am on Friday, were in stark contrast to the devastation wreaked in the previous 11 days of deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The enforcement of the mutual ceasefire, arbitrated chiefly by Egypt, was urgently needed and is a welcome development.
Assured of a cessation of hostilities on May 21, people whistled and cheered, Palestinian flags were waved, Gazans chanted in the streets and on top of cars.
The cause of this celebration, however, marks a sombre outcome: at least 232 Gazans were killed, including 65 children and 1,710 people were wounded. On the Israeli side, two children, were among the 10 people killed by rocket fire and 118 were wounded.
There is no doubt that the truce was the immediate need. It delivered critical respite to the over 2 million people living in Gaza, in addition to those living in other Palestinian territories and Israel. Much-needed humanitarian aid is entering Gaza, finally.
But history underlines the fact that a temporary fix cannot hold. The hard work starts now. Long-term solutions must be sought to end the violence that flares up every few years, over the past many decades, in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
In this latest round, over the past week, even as families bury their dead, signs of unity have been witnessed among Palestinians, whether among those living in Gaza or in the West Bank or in Israel. A wave of solidarity, manifesting in marches and protests that aligned with the Palestinian cause, has swept around the world. Palestinians need to build on this momentum. They should continue to rally in the interest of a solution. Similarly, Israel must pursue peace with the Palestinians.
Global and regional powers need to build on the cause of diplomacy and determine resolutions.
Last Thursday, US President Joe Biden spoke to his Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to review progress on brokering a ceasefire. Egypt borders Gaza and Israel and the country has been mediating between the two sides. Mr Biden spoke with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu six times, he said, in an effort to bring about the de-escalation, having earlier said Israel has a right to defend itself.
Mr Biden also called Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas for the first time since taking office in the White House. However, the US blocked a UN joint Security Council statement – three times – which called for ceasefire, a delay that ultimately cost more lives. Around the world, more was expected from Mr Biden's administration that has claimed to promote a foreign policy based on values and humanitarian channels.
From within the administration though, signs of change are beginning to show, with pressure mounting from within the Democratic party, indicating a shift in the US towards Palestine.
The first step to resolve the conflict must be for both sides to agree on the need for a definitive solution.
In light of this ceasefire, diplomatic efforts must resume. It is critical for both sides to engage in earnest. In the long run, a temporary truce is untenable.
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
US PGA Championship in numbers
1 Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.
2 To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.
3 Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.
4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.
5 In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.
6 For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.
7 Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.
8 Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.
9 Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.
10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.
11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.
12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.
13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.
14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.
15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.
16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.
17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.
18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
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One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
