Gaza ceasefire brings bittersweet relief to Texans with ties to the war-torn region

Austin-area families who attend the same mosque gather at Lakeline Park in Cedar Park on Jan. 18, the day before the Gaza ceasefire began. (Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune)

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At a crowded park north of Austin on Saturday, a small group mingled and picked at a menagerie of snacks and desserts on a table. With a Palestinian flag whipping in the winter breeze and traditional dabke music blaring from a speaker, an air of cautious optimism hung over conversation at what one of the gatherers called “not quite a celebration.”