A truce after a bitter two-year war between Israel and Hamas that divided opinion in Bermuda and brought demonstrators on to the island’s streets was met yesterday with elation mixed with reservations.

The Jewish Community of Bermuda told The Royal Gazette: “After 738 days of uncertainty, the live hostages were returned.

“Today our hearts are filled with relief, joy and cautious optimism.”

The group added: “A new dawn is possible for the Middle East. We hope and pray that this will be the end of the war and that there will be a lasting peace.”

The US-brokered ceasefire agreed last week between the two sides resulted in the release yesterday of 20 Israeli hostages by Hamas.

It came a little more than two years after the terrorist group launched a surprise attack on Israel from the Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip.

As hostages came home, Israel reciprocated with the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when nearly 1,200 people in southern Israel were killed in the Hamas assault, with about 250 civilians and soldiers taken into Gaza as hostages.

Intense fighting led the Israeli Defence Forces to raze much of Gaza, claiming a reported 70,000 lives — many of them women and children.

The ferocity of the opening attack by Hamas was met with shock and grief by the island’s small Jewish community, followed by a peace service at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Hamilton.

However, as the IDF’s toll on Palestinians mounted, groups such as Social Justice Bermuda criticised Israel, alleging a genocide by the Jewish state.

The island saw several peaceful demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians, but moments of friction as well.

The Jewish community launched a yellow ribbon campaign in November 2023 as a symbol of “hope and solidarity for the hostages and their families” along with innocent civilians in Gaza.

That December, the Israeli flag at the centre of the memorial was defaced with a spray-painted “Free Palestine”.

In February 2024, controversy was sparked by the screening of the pro-Palestinian film Israelism at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute

Although the showing went ahead without incident, there were calls for the BUEI not to permit it.

Among attendees was Dennis Lister, the Speaker of the House, who has criticised Israel’s conduct of the war in Parliament as well as in the activist group the Peace Coalition.

Yesterday, Mr Lister said: “First of all, like I am sure most of the world feels, we should all celebrate the fact that the fighting and the war has ended. This means that lives will no longer be lost, with innocent children getting killed, so I am pleased that the war has ceased.”

He added: “We have to stand grounded to ensure that Palestine is restored as an independent state. The two-state solution is the only way this will bring a lasting peace.”

Mr Lister insisted that the Israeli Government own up to the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and “ensure Gaza is rebuilt”, with Palestinians returning to “a war-torn zone with everything demolished”.

“Part of the responsibility the world should look for is Israel being held accountable in a real way to make sure life is restored in Gaza, and wherever else they have bombed and displaced,” he said.

The Peace Coalition said it was grateful for a ceasefire providing “Palestinians in Gaza relief from bombardment, although Israeli forces still retain control of 53 per cent of Gaza”.

The group added: “We are grateful to see all living Israeli hostages and 1,900 Palestinian captives released.

“Due to Israel’s repeated previous ceasefire violations, it is unclear if this ceasefire will last or, if it does, what the timeline will be for a full Israeli troop withdrawal.

“What is clear is that the surviving Palestinians in Gaza will suffer long-term effects from trauma and starvation, and most people in Gaza no longer have homes or even neighbourhoods to which they can return.”

The group claimed that Israeli attacks had killed more than “67,000 identifiable Palestinians, about half of whom were women and children”.

“More have died from lack of access to healthcare, food and water — Israel intercepted the flotillas and other attempts to open an aid corridor — while others have not been recovered or identified. An Israeli military intelligence database estimated 83 per cent of those killed to be civilians.”

The group said a lasting peace required justice, with war criminals held to account.

The statement added: “Apartheid must be brought to an end. Illegal settlements in the West Bank must be dismantled and returned to their rightful owners. The Palestinian people deserve reparations, right of return, freedom and self-determination.

“We encourage all people who value international law and human rights to exercise their power to support the Palestinian people.

“Please carefully choose where you spend your money to avoid complicity in Palestinian suffering, apply pressure to our government here, or abroad if you are a citizen elsewhere, and stay informed about what is happening.”