This truce acts as the first since November 2023, when similar hostage exchanges took place. Following this ceasefire, both sides plan to negotiate an end to the war.

The Palestinian community at Michigan State University gathered to celebrate this temporary period of peace and reaffirm the Palestinian struggle for justice. 

Over cups of hot chocolate, they painted The Rock with an image of the Palestinian flag and words over it that read "NO JUSTICE NO PEACE."

Students for Justice in Palestine President Nasim Barghouti said he wanted to use this opportunity to remind people that what's happening in Palestine is still an ongoing occupation, regardless of the ceasefire. 

"It's temporary," Barghouti said. "It does not mean the occupation is over. It does not mean Israel will not continue violence towards the people of Gaza, and towards the people of Palestine."

Barghouti stressed that Palestinians have the right to freedom and self-determination.

"There's lots of talk about peace, but we need to remind everyone that there is no peace without justice for the Palestinian people and for the Palestinian cause," he said.

Mechanical engineering sophomore Ahmed Hasan said violence is still occurring, even after the ceasefire occurred. He said he wants to remind people that the casualty rates could be higher than reported.

The Gaza Ministry of Health relies on data from Gaza’s public and private hospitals to count casualties.

"And there's not many hospitals left at Gaza," Hasan said.

For Hasan, who was in Palestine a few months before Oct. 7, 2023, this is a very personal conflict, he said.

"As a Palestinian, this is extremely important to me," he said. "It's important for us as an organization to be essentially educating and teaching more people about what's going on."

Philosophy freshman Omar Ansari said he believes that the ceasefire doesn’t necessitate the end of violence, as raids into Jenin by Israel have only led to more Palestinian casualties.  

"It's very important to understand that although there may be a 'ceasefire' under conditions of occupation, there can never truly be a sense of being able to be free from violence, free to thrive and live out your life peacefully," Ansari said.

Ansari wants to put divestment back on the table with MSU, arguing that the university's investments into Israel and weapons manufacturers conflict with the university’s neutrality and investments policy.

"It's important to remember all the Palestinian lives lost since Oct. 7, but not only since Oct. 7, but since the decades of occupation," he said. "Regardless of weather conditions, we are still here to mobilize. We're still here to show solidarity and support onto the movement for Palestinian Liberation."