The Reading / Listening - Gaza Ceasefire - Level 6

Around half a million Palestinians are returning to Gaza City following the start of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The truce followed extensive efforts and negotiations between Israel, Hamas, the USA, and Arab nations. The deal was orchestrated by US President Donald Trump, who hopes to bring peace to the region. The first phase of his peace deal involved the withdrawal of Israeli military from a large section of Gaza, and for Hamas to release the 48 hostages remaining in captivity. The laying down of arms has allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to head north to Gaza City, most of which is in ruins after two years of being bombarded and reduced to rubble.

Emotions have been running high in recent days among Israelis and Palestinians. Alongside the release of the Israeli hostages, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are expected to be freed. The brother-in-law of hostage Omri Miran told the New York Post: "I have yet to process it all. I am naturally happy that this nightmare may soon be over." Gaza City residents are relieved to be able to return home, despite the widespread destruction, almost no infrastructure, no electricity, and no running water. One resident said: "I pray that God relieves our sorrow and distress, and that people return to their homes." Another man was more cautious after being displaced 20 times in the past two years.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Gaza Ceasefire - Level 4  or  Gaza Ceasefire - Level 5

Sources
  • https://nypost.com/2025/10/09/world-news/families-of-hamas-hostages-feel-mix-of-joy-and-unease/
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/10/world/palestinians-returning-gaza-city-intl
  • https://apnews.com/article/gaza-shelling-ceasefire-israel-c832ff32cf332805ffb50bffa35e8220


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. CEASEFIRES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about ceasefires. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       Palestinians / Gaza / ceasefire / negotiations / peace / region / hostages / ruins /
       emotions / in recent days / prisoners / nightmare / relieved / infrastructure / cautious
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EVERLASTING PEACE: Students A strongly believe there will soon be everlasting peace in the Middle East; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ROLES: What roles do these players have in maintaining peace in Gaza? What do they need to do from now? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. GAZA: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "Gaza". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. REBUILDING: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important infrastructure Gaza needs at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Roads
  • Police stations
  • Schools
  • Railway stations
  • Hospitals
  • Courts
  • Airports
  • Ports

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. truce a. Broken pieces of stone, brick, or buildings.
      2. extensive b. An agreement to stop fighting for a time.
      3. negotiations c. The act of moving back or leaving a place.
      4. orchestrated d. Very big or covering a large area.
      5. withdrawal e. Carefully planned and organized.
      6. captivity f. Talks between people or groups to reach an agreement.
      7. rubble g. The state of being kept as a prisoner or not free.

    Paragraph 2

      8. detainees h. People kept by the police or army and not free to leave.
      9. nightmare i. Forced to leave home and live somewhere else.
      10. relieved j. A very bad or scary dream.
      11. destruction k. A strong feeling of sadness.
      12. infrastructure l. Feeling happy or calm after worry or fear.
      13. sorrow m. Great damage; when something is ruined or broken.
      14. displaced n. The basic systems a country needs, like roads and power.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Half a million people live in Gaza.     T / F
  2. The first stage of the ceasefire involves Israel's army leaving all of Gaza. T / F
  3. Hamas must release 48 hostages as part of the ceasefire.     T / F
  4. The article says Gaza City has been hit by bombs for the past two years. T / F
  5. The ceasefire requires Israel to release almost 2,000 prisoners.     T / F
  6. An Israeli man said he is happy the nightmare might soon be over.     T / F
  7. Only half of Gaza City has electricity.     T / F
  8. A Gaza City resident has moved 20 times in the past two years.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. returning
  2. ceasefire
  3. extensive
  4. section
  5. bombarded
  6. release
  7. nightmare
  8. sorrow
  9. cautious
  10. displaced
  1. freeing
  2. area
  3. wary
  4. truce
  5. sadness
  6. comprehensive
  7. relocated
  8. going back
  9. horror
  10. shelled

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. extensive efforts
  2. The first phase of
  3. the 48 hostages remaining
  4. in ruins after two years
  5. reduced to
  6. Emotions have been running
  7. Alongside the release
  8. this nightmare may
  9. widespread
  10. I pray that God relieves our sorrow
  1. his peace deal
  2. and distress
  3. high in recent days
  4. rubble
  5. destruction
  6. in captivity
  7. soon be over
  8. of being bombarded
  9. of the Israeli hostages
  10. and negotiations

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
region
captivity
following
reduced
orchestrated
truce
ruins
section

Around half a million Palestinians are returning to Gaza City (1) _________________________________ the start of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The (2) _________________________________ followed extensive efforts and negotiations between Israel, Hamas, the USA, and Arab nations. The deal was (3) _________________________________ by US President Donald Trump, who hopes to bring peace to the (4) _________________________________. The first phase of his peace deal involved the withdrawal of Israeli military from a large (5) _________________________________ of Gaza, and for Hamas to release the 48 hostages remaining in (6) _________________________________. The laying down of arms has allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to head north to Gaza City, most of which is in (7) _________________________________ after two years of being bombarded and (8) _________________________________ to rubble.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
nightmare
high
running
process
cautious
infrastructure
sorrow
detainees

Emotions have been running (9) _________________________________ in recent days among Israelis and Palestinians. Alongside the release of the Israeli hostages, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and (10) _________________________________ are expected to be freed. The brother-in-law of hostage Omri Miran told the New York Post: "I have yet to (11) _________________________________ it all. I am naturally happy that this (12) _________________________________ may soon be over." Gaza City residents are relieved to be able to return home, despite the widespread destruction, almost no (13) _________________________________, no electricity, and no (14) _________________________________ water. One resident said: "I pray that God relieves our (15) _________________________________ and distress, and that people return to their homes." Another man was more (16) _________________________________ after being displaced 20 times in the past two years.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  the start of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The truce _____
     a.  followed expensive efforts
     b.  followed extensive efforts
     c.  followed extents live efforts
     d.  follow extensive efforts
2)  by US President Donald Trump, who hopes to bring peace ______
     a.  to a region
     b.  to the regional
     c.  to the legion
     d.  to the region
3)  The first phase of his peace deal ______
     a.  involve the withdrawal
     b.  involved the wherewithal
     c.  involved the withdrawal
     d.  involved the with drawl
4)  and for Hamas to release the 48 hostages ______
     a.  remaining in captivity
     b.  remaining on captivity
     c.  remain inner captivity
     d.  remaining a captivity
5)  in ruins after two years of being bombarded and ______
     a.  reduced to rabble
     b.  reduced to rubble
     c.  reduced to trouble
     d.  deduced to rubble

6)  nearly 2,000 Palestinian ______
     a.  prisoners end detainees
     b.  prisoners and detains
     c.  prisoners and detainees
     d.  prisoner and detainees
7)  I have yet to process it all. I am naturally happy that this nightmare may ______
     a.  soon be above
     b.  soon be over
     c.  soon be end
     d.  soon be other
8)  widespread destruction, almost no infrastructure, no electricity, and ______
     a.  no ruining water
     b.  no raining water
     c.  no reigning water
     d.  no running water
9)  One resident said: "I pray that God relieves our ______"
     a.  sorrowed and distress
     b.  sorrow and distress
     c.  sorrow and distressed
     d.  sorrowed and distressed
10)  Another man was more cautious after being ______
     a.  misplaced 20 times
     b.  placed 20 times
     c.  replaced 20 times
     d.  displaced 20 times

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Around half a million Palestinians are returning to Gaza City (1) _______________________________________________ of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The truce followed (2) _______________________________________________ negotiations between Israel, Hamas, the USA, and Arab nations. The deal (3) _______________________________________________ US President Donald Trump, who hopes to bring peace to the region. The first phase of his peace deal (4) _______________________________________________ of Israeli military from a large section of Gaza, and for Hamas to release the 48 hostages remaining in captivity. The (5) _______________________________________________ arms has allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to head north to Gaza City, most of which is in ruins after two years of being bombarded and (6) _______________________________________________.

Emotions have been running (7) _______________________________________________ days among Israelis and Palestinians. Alongside the release of the Israeli hostages, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners (8) _______________________________________________ expected to be freed. The brother-in-law of hostage Omri Miran told the New York Post: "I have (9) _______________________________________________ it all. I am naturally happy that this nightmare may soon be over." Gaza City residents are relieved to be able to return home, (10) _______________________________________________ destruction, almost no infrastructure, no electricity, and no running water. One resident said: "I pray that God (11) _______________________________________________ and distress, and that people return to their homes." Another man was more (12) _______________________________________________ displaced 20 times in the past two years.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the truce follow?
  2. Who orchestrated the truce?
  3. What must Israel's army leave in the first phase of the truce?
  4. What was laid down to facilitate the return of Gaza City residents?
  5. What does the article say happened to Gaza City in the past two years?
  6. What have emotions been doing recently?
  7. What did an Israeli man say he was happy about being over?
  8. What does Gaza City not have besides infrastructure and electricity?
  9. What did a Gaza City resident pray God would relieve?
  10. How many times has a Gaza City resident been displaced in two years?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What did the truce follow?
a) a plea from a child
b) extensive efforts and negotiations
c) a phone call
d) an online petition
2)  Who orchestrated the truce?
a) The leader of the EU
b) the United Nations
c) the emir of Qatar
d) Donald Trump
3) What must Israel's army leave in the first phase of the truce?
a) a large section of Gaza
b) all border areas
c) Gaza City
d) Gaza's airport
4) What was laid down to facilitate the return of Gaza City residents?
a) wreaths
b) a law
c) arms
d) a challenge
5) What does the article say happened to Gaza City in the past two years?
a) It was swamped.
b) It was bombarded.
c) It was plagued.
d) It was hounded.

6) What have emotions been doing recently?
a) running high
b) fluctuating
c) calming
d) drained
7) What did an Israeli man say he was happy about being over?
a) his insomnia
b) sleepless nights
c) the nightmare
d) being afraid
8) What does Gaza City not have besides infrastructure and electricity?
a) running water
b) fresh air
c) places to grow vegetables
d) hope
9) What did a Gaza City resident pray God would relieve?
a) sorrow and distress
b) his aches and pain
c) his fears
d) aching soul
10) How many times has a Gaza City resident been displaced in two years?
a) ten times
b) a dozen times
c) eighteen times
d) twenty times

Role play

Role  A – Roads
You think the new Gaza is most in need of roads. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): schools, hospitals or ports.

Role  B – Schools
You think the new Gaza is most in need of schools. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): roads, hospitals or ports.

Role  C – Hospitals
You think the new Gaza is most in need of hospitals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): schools, roads or ports.

Role  D – Ports
You think the new Gaza is most in need of ports. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): schools, hospitals or roads.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'peace'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'ceasefire'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • following
    • efforts
    • first
    • large
    • arms
    • two
    • high
    • nearly
    • yet
    • almost
    • pray
    • cautious

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Gaza Ceasefire

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'Gaza'?
    3. What do you think of the ceasefire?
    4. How hopeful are you that the ceasefire will lead to peace?
    5. Who should lead the efforts to rebuild Gaza?
    6. What will bring everlasting peace to the region?
    7. How might peace in the Middle East change the world?
    8. What do you think Gaza will be like in ten years from now?
    9. What do hope Gaza will be like in ten years from now?
    10. What advice do you have for people who live in Gaza?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'ceasefire'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about Gaza?
    5. What do you know about the history of the Palestinians and Israelis?
    6. What problems might there be in the rebuilding of Gaza?
    7. What can you do to help?
    8. What do you think of the leaders in the region?
    9. How important are the USA and UN in maintaining the peace?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the peace negotiators?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Around half a million Palestinians are returning to Gaza City (1) ____ the start of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The (2) ____ followed extensive efforts and negotiations between Israel, Hamas, the USA, and Arab nations. The deal was (3) ____ by US President Donald Trump, who hopes to bring peace to the region. The first phase of his peace deal involved the (4) ____ of Israeli military from a large section of Gaza, and for Hamas to release the 48 hostages remaining in captivity. The (5) ____ down of arms has allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to head north to Gaza City, most of which is (6) ____ ruins after two years of being bombarded and reduced to rubble.

    Emotions have been (7) ____ high in recent days among Israelis and Palestinians. Alongside the release of the Israeli hostages, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are expected to (8) ____ freed. The brother-in-law of hostage Omri Miran told the New York Post: "I have yet to process it all. I am naturally happy that this nightmare may soon be over." Gaza City residents are relieved to be able to return home, (9) ____ the widespread destruction, almost no infrastructure, no electricity, and no running water. One resident said: "I pray (10) ____ God relieves our sorrow and distress, and that people return to their homes." Another man was more (11) ____ after being (12) ____ 20 times in the past two years.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     follow     (b)     following     (c)     follower     (d)     follows    
    2. (a)     truth     (b)     truce     (c)     true     (d)     truths    
    3. (a)     sampled     (b)     conducted     (c)     composed     (d)     orchestrated    
    4. (a)     institution     (b)     withdrawal     (c)     taking     (d)     deposit    
    5. (a)     lying     (b)     laying     (c)     layering     (d)     lowering    
    6. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     by    
    7. (a)     ruining     (b)     reigning     (c)     running     (d)     raining    
    8. (a)     have     (b)     be     (c)     see     (d)     do    
    9. (a)     spiteful     (b)     desperate     (c)     spite     (d)     despite    
    10. (a)     for     (b)     thus     (c)     what     (d)     that    
    11. (a)     cautious     (b)     caustic     (c)     caution     (d)     cautiously    
    12. (a)     misplaced     (b)     replaced     (c)     displaced     (d)     placed

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. extensive efforts and ontiiotengas
    2. The deal was ersathrtoecd by US President Donald Trump
    3. the wlitdawrah of Israeli military
    4. the 48 hostages remaining in pctiavyit
    5. in ruins after two years of being dobbmdrae
    6. reduced to ebblur

    Paragraph 2

    1. 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and eetsneiad
    2. I have yet to csopres it all
    3. Gaza City residents are vieledre
    4. almost no frrtertuusican
    5. our oorwsr and distress
    6. Another man was more isuaucot

    Put the text back together

    (    )   and Arab nations. The deal was orchestrated by US President Donald Trump, who hopes
    (  1  )   Around half a million Palestinians are returning to Gaza City following the start of a ceasefire
    (    )   between Israel and Hamas. The truce followed extensive efforts and negotiations between Israel, Hamas, the USA,
    (    )   Emotions have been running high in recent days among Israelis and Palestinians. Alongside the
    (    )   freed. The brother-in-law of hostage Omri Miran told the New York Post: "I have yet to
    (    )   in captivity. The laying down of arms has allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to head
    (    )   no electricity, and no running water. One resident said: "I pray that God relieves our sorrow and distress, and that
    (    )   north to Gaza City, most of which is in ruins after two years of being bombarded and reduced to rubble.
    (    )   of Israeli military from a large section of Gaza, and for Hamas to release the 48 hostages remaining
    (    )   people return to their homes." Another man was more cautious after being displaced 20 times in the past two years.
    (    )   process it all. I am naturally happy that this nightmare may soon be over." Gaza City residents are
    (    )   release of the Israeli hostages, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are expected to be
    (    )   relieved to be able to return home, despite the widespread destruction, almost no infrastructure,
    (    )   to bring peace to the region. The first phase of his peace deal involved the withdrawal

    Put the words in the right order

    1. half   Around   million   a   are   Palestinians   returning   .
    2. hopes   He   bring   to   to   peace   region   the   .
    3. The   phase   first   his   of   deal   peace   .
    4. Release   48   the   remaining   hostages   captivity   in   .
    5. In   after   ruins   years   two   being   of   bombarded   .
    6. have   Emotions   running   been   in   high   days   recent   .
    7. Prisoners   detainees   and   expected   are   be   to   freed   .
    8. happy   I'm   nightmare   this   soon   may   over   be   .
    9. Residents   relieved   are   be   to   to   able   return   .
    10. man   Another   more   was   after   cautious   displaced   being   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Around half a million Palestinians are returning to Gaza City followed / following the start of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The truth / truce followed extensive efforts and negotiations between Israel, Hamas, the USA, and Arab nations. The deal was orchestrated / composed by US President Donald Trump, who hopes to bring peace to the regions / region. The first phase / phrase of his peace deal involved the withdrawal of Israeli military from a large sanction / section of Gaza, and for Hamas to release the 48 hostages remaining on / in captivity. The laying down of armour / arms has allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to head north to Gaza City, most of which is in / on ruins after two years of being bombarded and reduced to rabble / rubble.

    Emotions have been running / following high in recent days among Israelis and Palestinians. Alongside / Along the release of the Israeli hostages, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are expected to be freely / freed. The brother-in-law of / to hostage Omri Miran told the New York Post: "I have yet to process / progress it all. I am naturally happy that this nightmare may soon be above / over." Gaza City residents are relieved to be able to return home, despite / spite the widespread destruction, almost no infrastructure, no electricity, and no running / dripping water. One resident said: "I pray that God relieving / relieves our sorrow and distress, and that people return to their homes." Another man was more caution / cautious after being displaced 20 times in the past two years.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _r_und  h_lf  _  m_ll__n  P_l_st_n__ns  _r_  r_turn_ng  t_  G_z_  C_ty  f_ll_w_ng  th_  st_rt  _f  _  c__s_f_r_  b_tw__n  _sr__l  _nd  H_m_s.  Th_  truc_  f_ll_w_d  _xt_ns_v_  _ff_rts  _nd  n_g_t__t__ns  b_tw__n  _sr__l,  H_m_s,  th_  US_,  _nd  _r_b  n_t__ns.  Th_  d__l  w_s  _rch_str_t_d  by  US  Pr_s_d_nt  D_n_ld  Trump,  wh_  h_p_s  t_  br_ng  p__c_  t_  th_  r_g__n.  Th_  f_rst  ph_s_  _f  h_s  p__c_  d__l  _nv_lv_d  th_  w_thdr_w_l  _f  _sr__l_  m_l_t_ry  fr_m  _  l_rg_  s_ct__n  _f  G_z_,  _nd  f_r  H_m_s  t_  r_l__s_  th_  48  h_st_g_s  r_m__n_ng  _n  c_pt_v_ty.  Th_  l_y_ng  d_wn  _f  _rms  h_s  _ll_w_d  hundr_ds  _f  th_us_nds  _f  P_l_st_n__ns  t_  h__d  n_rth  t_  G_z_  C_ty,  m_st  _f  wh_ch  _s  _n  ru_ns  _ft_r  tw_  y__rs  _f  b__ng  b_mb_rd_d  _nd  r_duc_d  t_  rubbl_.

    _m_t__ns  h_v_  b__n  runn_ng  h_gh  _n  r_c_nt  d_ys  _m_ng  _sr__l_s  _nd  P_l_st_n__ns.  _l_ngs_d_  th_  r_l__s_  _f  th_  _sr__l_  h_st_g_s,  n__rly  2,000  P_l_st_n__n  pr_s_n_rs  _nd  d_t__n__s  _r_  _xp_ct_d  t_  b_  fr__d.  Th_  br_th_r-_n-l_w  _f  h_st_g_  _mr_  M_r_n  t_ld  th_  N_w  Y_rk  P_st:  "_  h_v_  y_t  t_  pr_c_ss  _t  _ll.  _  _m  n_tur_lly  h_ppy  th_t  th_s  n_ghtm_r_  m_y  s__n  b_  _v_r."  G_z_  C_ty  r_s_d_nts  _r_  r_l__v_d  t_  b_  _bl_  t_  r_turn  h_m_,  d_sp_t_  th_  w_d_spr__d  d_struct__n,  _lm_st  n_  _nfr_structur_,  n_  _l_ctr_c_ty,  _nd  n_  runn_ng  w_t_r.  _n_  r_s_d_nt  s__d:  "_  pr_y  th_t  G_d  r_l__v_s  _ur  s_rr_w  _nd  d_str_ss,  _nd  th_t  p__pl_  r_turn  t_  th__r  h_m_s."  _n_th_r  m_n  w_s  m_r_  c_ut__us  _ft_r  b__ng  d_spl_c_d  20  t_m_s  _n  th_  p_st  tw_  y__rs.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    around half a million palestinians are returning to gaza city following the start of a ceasefire between israel and hamas the truce followed extensive efforts and negotiations between israel hamas the usa and arab nations the deal was orchestrated by us president donald trump who hopes to bring peace to the region the first phase of his peace deal involved the withdrawal of israeli military from a large section of gaza and for hamas to release the 48 hostages remaining in captivity the laying down of arms has allowed hundreds of thousands of palestinians to head north to gaza city most of which is in ruins after two years of being bombarded and reduced to rubble

    emotions have been running high in recent days among israelis and palestinians alongside the release of the israeli hostages nearly 2000 palestinian prisoners and detainees are expected to be freed the brotherinlaw of hostage omri miran told the new york post i have yet to process it all i am naturally happy that this nightmare may soon be over gaza city residents are relieved to be able to return home despite the widespread destruction almost no infrastructure no electricity and no running water one resident said i pray that god relieves our sorrow and distress and that people return to their homes another man was more cautious after being displaced 20 times in the past two years

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AroundhalfamillionPalestiniansarereturningtoGazaCityfollowingthe
    startofaceasefirebetweenIsraelandHamas.Thetrucefollowedextensi
    veeffortsandnegotiationsbetweenIsrael,Hamas,theUSA,andArabna
    tions.ThedealwasorchestratedbyUSPresidentDonaldTrump,whohop
    estobringpeacetotheregion.Thefirstphaseofhispeacedealinvolvedth
    ewithdrawalofIsraelimilitaryfromalargesectionofGaza,andforHama
    storeleasethe48hostagesremainingincaptivity.Thelayingdownofar
    mshasallowedhundredsofthousandsofPalestinianstoheadnorthtoGa
    zaCity,mostofwhichisinruinsaftertwoyearsofbeingbombardedandre
    ducedtorubble.EmotionshavebeenrunninghighinrecentdaysamongI
    sraelisandPalestinians.AlongsidethereleaseoftheIsraelihostages,ne
    arly2,000Palestinianprisonersanddetaineesareexpectedtobefreed.
    Thebrother-in-lawofhostageOmriMirantoldtheNewYorkPost:"Ihave
    yettoprocessitall.Iamnaturallyhappythatthisnightmaremaysoonbeo
    ver."GazaCityresidentsarerelievedtobeabletoreturnhome,despiteth
    ewidespreaddestruction,almostnoinfrastructure,noelectricity,andn
    orunningwater.Oneresidentsaid:"IpraythatGodrelievesoursorrowa
    nddistress,andthatpeoplereturntotheirhomes."Anothermanwasmor
    ecautiousafterbeingdisplaced20timesinthepasttwoyears.

    Free writing

    Write about Gaza ceasefire for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    The United Nations should lead efforts to rebuild Gaza. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. GAZA: Make a poster about Gaza. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. UNITED NATIONS: Write a magazine article about the United Nations leading the rebuilding of Gaza. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on Gaza. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to bring everlasting peace to the area. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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