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Abdullah Algherbawi is breathing a sigh of relief after he was reunited with his wife and kids on Tuesday in Saskatoon.
His wife Sabreen and their four children were trapped in Gaza after Hamas began its attacks on Israel and the area quickly became a warzone.
Abdullah Algherbawi embraces his daughter after his family members managed to make their way out of Gaza. (Abdullah Algherbawi/Submitted)
“I’m so happy that we got back together again after the 45 days they were stuck in Gaza,” Algherbawi said. “I still have a little bit of stress regarding my relatives there, but I am OK now.”
Algherbawi said he no longer has to worry about whether he’ll ever see his wife and kids again.
“You have that image in your mind that you will not see them again. After I saw them and they saw me, that image is gone. We’re together again and we’re happy,” he explained.
After the reunion, Algherbawi said his children were able to go to school and see their friends again. He said he hopes they can resume their studies within the next week.
The return home to Prince Albert means Sabreen can finally relax after what was a difficult 45 days.
Sabreen described what it was like being in Gaza during the war.
“The first day of the war, they bombed our neighbour’s house. We ran away in the streets and didn’t know what to do or where we go,” Sabreen said.
“I went to my sister’s house, my parents’ house (and) my husband’s sister’s house. I went to many places.”
Sabreen credited her family members for helping her get through what was a very stressful time as she tried to take care of her children.
“It was a hard time,” she stated. “Sometimes I am crying and don’t know what to do. I have four kids, and it’s hard for me. Where is the next place, and there’s no place to live. My family told me, ‘It’s OK, and you should be strong for your kids.’ ”
Abdullah Algherbawi holds two of his children after their reunion on Tuesday. (Abdullah Algherbawi/Submitted)
She said it was hard to get essentials like food and water.
“There’s no clean water, no food (and) no electricity,” she explained. “Sometimes we ate canned food, and it’s not healthy for the kids. So the situation there is very hard, and some people don’t have food and don’t eat for multiple days.”
Sabreen and her kids were able to get out of Gaza after the Egyptian border authorities allowed a specific number of Canadian citizens to leave the warzone. Both Abdullah and Sabreen became Canadian citizens this year.
While she and her family were on the list, Sabreen said it still took them several attempts to get across into Egypt.
“We tried at least five times, and we waited all day from the morning until sunset,” Sabreen said.
“Every time we’d go, they’d tell us the border is closed and we start thinking about where is a safe place to go, but on the sixth time we finally left.
“Many times we went to that border and I (would) lose hope. We are very happy to leave Gaza,” she added.
While she’s relived to be home, she said her family is still concerned about their relatives who remain in Gaza.
“I didn’t see my family for one month. They were in Gaza City, and after that, they moved to the south, but I didn’t see them really. It’s hard for me to leave Gaza without all my family,” she explained.
“My mom called me and I told her, ‘I want to go back to Canada.’ She told me and said, ‘I need to hug you, I need to hug your kids.’ I’m so worried about them – my parents, my sisters and brothers. It’s hard for me.”
READ MORE:
- Israel attacks hit close to home for Sask. Jewish community
- Regina man loses contact with family in Gaza
- Protesters calling for Gaza ceasefire disrupt Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly
For those still stranded in Gaza, there is some good news as Hamas and Israel have agreed to a four-day ceasefire which will begin on Friday morning.
By Friday afternoon, 13 Israeli hostages are expected to be released by Hamas. Officials said that for every hostage released, three Palestinians currently imprisoned in Israel will also be freed.
The ceasefire is also planned to give relief to 2.3 million Palestinians living in Gaza who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment. More humanitarian aid will also come into Gaza as part of the deal.
Sabreen said she doesn’t think the brief ceasefire will help much, but she hopes it will help get essential items to people living in the area.
“I hope it gives my family some time to get some food (and) some clothing, because right now it’s wintertime and they don’t have winter clothing,” she said.
“They left their home and the Israeli army bombed my parents’ home, so they don’t have a place to go.”
– With files from The Canadian Press
