Dubai resident issues plea for peace after four cousins killed in Israel-Gaza war

Hazem Helme Abuanza voices fears for other family members in war zone as humanitarian crisis worsens

Hazem Helme Abuanza fears for the safety of his parents in Gaza, who were forced to flee after heavy Israeli bombardment. Photo: Hazem Helme Abuanza

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A Dubai resident grieving the deaths of four of his cousins in the early days of the Israel-Gaza war has issued a plea for peace.

Hazem Helme Abuanza, 34, said two of his relatives died on the first day of the conflict, with the other family members killed only two days later.

He said he was gripped with fear over the well-being of his parents, who were forced to flee their home in Gaza over heavy Israeli bombardment.

“My parents and relatives reside in the south-east of Gaza, near Rafah and Khan Younis," said Mr Abuanza, who works as a journalist at the Arabic Al Khaleej newspaper. "Due to the proximity to border bombings, my parents fled to the safer centre of Khan Younis on October 9.

"Tragically, on the first day of the war, two of my cousins lost their lives. Two days later, two other cousins died, leaving behind five children each.

"The night of October 24 inflicted immense hardship on my parents," he added. "They were told that the newly constructed apartment, as well as mine, both situated in a two-storey building, were hit by bombardment, resulting in partial damage and imminent risk of collapse, along with nearly 50 houses that were either fully or partially destroyed."

He told of the hugely challenging conditions they face in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza, which has doubled in population in a matter of days due to the arrival of refugees from the north.

“Khan Younis, originally home to about 300,000 people, has now doubled to 600,000 due to the influx of displaced civilians.

"Due to the overwhelming crowd and lack of hygiene in crowded UNRWA [The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] schools, I rented a house for my parents in Khan Younis."

He called for a halt to the escalating violence as the death toll in Gaza climbed above 6,500, with hundreds of thousands more displaced and vital supplies of fuel, food and water rapidly running out.

"While people can endure hunger and thirst, the prevailing fear within homes, uncertain of when they might be bombarded, is overwhelming," he said.

"My primary concern revolves around my parents, living in constant apprehension.

"In this dire situation, what is truly needed is not just humanitarian aid but an immediate cessation of the war.”

'World must take notice'

Nadeen Awwad, a Palestinian-American who lives in Abu Dhabi, said her loved ones caught up in the conflict are safe but reeling from the emotional anguish of the conflict.

“I have first and second cousins living in Taybeh [in the occupied West Bank]," said Ms Awwad, an engineer at Adnoc. "My village is very small. Most of the people work in Ramallah.

"My cousins are physically safe but they are barely coping emotionally and mentally.

“Ever since the war in Gaza, the situation in the West Bank has been a lot more hostile.

"There have been several cases where the roads were either closed or they will have to risk driving knowing that they are going to be passing by settlements.

"You may have some settlers go rogue and start shooting Palestinians on the roads.”

Ms Awwad called for more awareness of the plight facing Palestinians in a city under siege.

"I believe that the world doesn't realise how small Gaza is," she said. "I think that this perspective needs to be communicated a lot more in terms of how Gaza compares to London, or to the size of Dubai or the size of other major cities so people can understand that you are not talking about a major piece of land.

Israel-Gaza war - in pictures

"If you are on one end of the Gaza Strip, you can hear the planes or the bombings on the other side."

Evacuation orders from Israel and the looming threat of a ground invasion have prompted huge numbers of people to leave their homes and seek refuge in other parts of Gaza.

“I think people need to be aware that Gaza is already an open-air prison," Ms Awwad said. "It's already one of the most densely populated areas in the world and you're asking people to cramp in half the space of what is already crowded and where there are no places [to live].”

In her efforts to bring solace, Ms Awwad follows Gazans recording the war on social media and closely monitors their needs.

“To support the people of Palestine, I follow Gazans documenting the war closely on social media," she said. "As Palestinians outside of Palestine, witnessing the horrific massacres is emotionally draining, leaving us feeling helpless and unable to provide direct assistance.”