End of March 2024, Hamada, Asmaa, Yamin, Line and Reem leave the hell of Gaza and enter Egypt. They are first housed by a contact of his brother before Hamada finds an apartment to rent.
The children rediscover simple things like taking a shower or going to a supermarket. He tells me it’s incredible for him to be able to enter a room, be alone, and close the door! Unlike him, they had never left the Gaza Strip. Hamada then helps them discover and navigate an entirely new environment.
Egyptians are not always very welcoming to the rescued Palestinians who arrive. It’s a double punishment. Hamada still cannot sleep or eat — he looks extremely thin — and he has flashbacks of situations where he saw people dying. He is also still in shock from having left his family behind in Gaza, and from finding himself on the other side, constantly worried about them. The children, meanwhile, are afraid as soon as they hear the sound of an airplane. However, over time, they will begin to feel safe again. They will even be able to go back to school. What a relief to know they have a roof over their heads, no bombs, running water, and access to food!
“Written by Fabienne“