Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Iran taking effect on Tuesday — bringing an end to their 12-day conflict — Tel Aviv had yet to return to its usual rhythm a day later. Still, locals remained hopeful for brighter days ahead.

The ceasefire, abruptly announced by US President Donald Trump in the early hours of Tuesday and taking effect at 7 a.m., was met with cautious relief, but many Israelis remained skeptical and hesitant about whether it would hold, leaving the streets of Tel Aviv still relatively empty.

Carmel Market, typically a bustling hub of shoppers and tourists, was uncharacteristically calm. June is normally peak season for local vendors, when squeezing through the crowded alleys can feel nearly impossible. But on Wednesday, the open-air market saw only a fraction of its usual foot traffic.

“We haven’t returned to our usual routine yet,” said Shahar Yoseph, a fruit and vegetable vendor at the market.

His stall stayed open throughout most of the nearly two-week conflict, but business has yet to bounce back.

“We’ve lost about 80% of our business since the start of this fighting,” Yoseph said. “But I hope in the next day or two, things will go back to normal.”

Among those wandering through the market’s narrow lanes was Ariel Yona, an Israeli-American visiting from Miami, in search of some sense of normalcy.

“Everything has been closed for the last two weeks, and I wanted to get a breather,” she said.

Yona arrived in Israel at the end of May for her sister’s wedding, which was ultimately canceled due to the conflict.

“We figured out a way to downsize and have a smaller, more intimate wedding instead,” she explained. “Now I’m trying to enjoy Israel as much as I can before I leave.”

But her flight was canceled with the shutdown of Israel’s airspace, and it’s unclear when or how she’ll be able to return home.

Yona described the shock of hearing the news of the ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

“It came out of nowhere. One moment we were at war, and the next we weren’t anymore,” she said. “It all just seemed very random — I still haven’t wrapped my head around it.”

Despite the uncertainty, Yona said she draws strength from the resilience of Israelis.

“I was in Israel on October 7, 2023,” she said, referencing the day when Hamas launched a brutal surprise attack on southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking 251 more hostage. “I saw then how Israelis come together. I know they can do it again now.”

Just a few blocks away, Tel Aviv’s beaches — usually packed this time of year with tourists and locals vying for the best spots — lay eerily quiet. It was a perfect beach day, but only a handful of sunbathers were scattered along the shoreline, with a few pedestrians strolling the mostly empty boardwalk.

Lidor Tayer, who made his way to the boardwalk from the southern city of Ashdod, had come to Tel Aviv to offer passersby the opportunity to wrap tefillin.

“It’s very interesting to put up a tefillin wrapping stand in Tel Aviv — many of the people here don’t agree with this way of life,” he said. “But once you start speaking to them, you understand that there is a basis for open conversation.”

Tayer said the experience has shown him just how vital dialogue is in Israel right now.

“There is a divide in Israeli society, which has recently reached its peak,” he said, citing Israel’s internal political turmoil. “This allows me to speak with people calmly, and show them where I’m coming from.”

He expressed hope that the ceasefire with Iran might lead to similar conversations — even across borders.

“I would love to see the Iranian leadership be replaced. I would love to see the citizens there happy and democratic,” he said. “Maybe the ceasefire is a good thing, maybe there is some sort of discussion to be had there. Not everything needs to be done through war and force.”

Just down the street, an Iranian missile impact site remained sealed off by Israeli authorities.

The missile struck on June 16, destroying two buildings and causing extensive damage across a three-block radius — shattering windows, injuring four people, and leaving the heavily-trafficked neighborhood filled with restaurants, cafes and small businesses in disarray.

People passed by the cordoned-off area, some pausing to examine the destruction and snap photos.

Among them was Gali Alfendari, who was coming from the beach after nearly two weeks of staying indoors.

“I wanted to come here to see the damage. It’s very, very sad,” she said. “Almost everyone who walks by has to stop and stare. Everyone knows this street corner, and now to see it like this is shocking.”

Asked about the ceasefire, Alfendari said she was skeptical that it would last.

“I doubt it will hold for a very long time,” she said. “We [Israelis] are filled with anxiety for what comes next.”