Central Ohio residents react to Middle East ceasefire

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Israel and Hezbollah have brokered a ceasefire that went into effect early Wednesday morning in the Middle East.  

Dr. Ori Yehudai, an associate professor at Ohio State University who teaches about the history of the conflict in the Middle East, said the war between Israel and Hezbollah started on Oct. 8, 2023, one day after the Israel-Hamas war broke out.  

Yehudai has family living in Israel who are impacted by the ceasefire.  

“My family lives in the north, very close to the Lebanese border and they’ve been living in a war zone since the beginning of that war in October 2023,” he said.  

With the ceasefire in effect, the hope is that life goes back to normal for people in Lebanon and northern Israel.  

Yehudai said this is a clear de-escalation in the Middle East, but the war between Hamas and Israel is still ongoing. He said this ceasefire may lead to even more violence in Gaza.  

“It could allow Israel to fight in Gaza even more easily because Israel would not have to use part of its forces in Lebanon,” Yehudai said.  

This is exactly what Palestinian American Rawan Eldadah is afraid of. She was raised in central Ohio but most of her extended family was living in Gaza when the war broke out. 

Eldadah said many family members were able to evacuate to Egypt, but some remain in the war zone.  

“Scarcity of food, no place to be safe, it’s a constant state of survival, running from home to home just trying to survive every day,” Eldadah said.  

More violence in Gaza is not just a concern at this point for Eldadah and her family. She said it’s something they believe will happen.  

“It’s an anticipation,” Eldadah said. “We understand that that’s what is going to happen and I’m fearful for the safety of my family as well as everyone else in the land. Everyone believes it’s so far away but it really is here at home in America with our American citizens.”  

Both Eldadah and Yehudai said they want their family members to be safe during this ongoing conflict. Yehudai said he believes the ceasefire is a positive development in the Middle East.