Jamal Naman felt lost for the last eight days. With Israeli strikes from both the air and sea, he was unable to take his boat out and make a living.

“While the war waged, I missed the sea, he said, standing in the early morning sunshine at the port in Gaza City. Naman has fished here all his life. Fishermen say they were warned to keep their boats out of the water, or face being targeted.

With the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas holding, dozens of boats were launched Thursday morning.

“If both sides stick to the ceasefire, it’s good for us. We feel happy now. Our children left the house today smiling, no longer scared, said Naman.

Just down the quay, Ahmed al-Gorani, was more pessimistic.

“The war may be over, but there is still the Israeli blockade, said the 62-year-old fisherman. Israel imposes a three-nautical-mile limit on where Gazan fisherman may work.

Al-Gorani says the more profitable catches are well beyond that.

“We cannot go and fish beyond where Israel tells us, and here the fish are small. We make no money from them.

If this truce agreement holds, Israel and Hamas are expected to begin negotiations to end the blockade.The fishermen at the port welcomed that development, but negotiations on this contentious issue will not be easy.

Elsewhere in Gaza, signs of life returning to normal after eight days of violence were evident everywhere. Shops and restaurants that had been shuttered reopened. The markets were busy as shoppers stocked up on food and milk.

CBC 2012