Upon reaching Dublin Airport on Saturday afternoon, Zak Hania, a man of Irish-Palestinian descent, was met with joyous shouts of “free, free Palestine” from an enthusiastic crowd of friends and supporters, who were brandishing Palestine flags and wearing keffiyehs. This marked the end of his months-long ordeal trapped in the Gaza Strip and was a moment of emotional reunion with his family, whom he had not seen since November.
Upon entry through the arrivals gate, the sight of his Irish-born sons – Mazen, Ismael, Ahmed and Nour, prompted Mr. Hania to break into tears as he collected each son in a heartfelt embrace. Meanwhile, his wife Batoul, who had arrived at the airport a bit earlier with their children, shared a deeply emotional moment with him.
The overwhelming emotions left Mr Hania at a loss for words, as he articulated his relief at being reunited with his loved ones and the surreal feelings that overtook him. Speaking to the press right after his emotional reunion, Mr Hania described the past seven months as a terror-filled nightmare of relentless bombing that had left him feeling emotional numbness.
Expressing the fatigue and strain endured by the people of Gaza, he termed this experience as a truly difficult one. Back on safe ground, he expressed his relief, gratitude for his survival and joy at being with his family and dear friends.
In a symbolic gesture to show his love for his adoptive homeland, Mr Hania knelt and kissed the earth, to express his gratitude at surviving Israel’s aggressive targeting of his home country.
He expressed deep gratitude and admiration for the Irish, stating his fondness for Ireland, its people and his friends who have stood up for justice. He praised the Irish for their support to the people of Gaza stating, “I love you all, for standing for justice.”
With equal affection for his birth and adopted homelands, he considered both Ireland and Palestine to be very close to his heart. He conveyed his heartfelt thanks to all those individuals who marched in Irish streets in support of Gaza and Palestine.
Stressing the urgent need to halt the warfare in the Gaza Strip, he described the conflict as a brutal genocide, emphasised the grave need to put a stop to it and thanked God for surviving the ordeal.
Speaking before his departure through the Rafah crossing, Mr Hania detailed the horrors he had witnessed in the besieged area, and spoke of the painful loss of friends, family, and neighbours. He told of the tragic deaths of 13,000 children, some of whom he had held in his hands, reduced to shreds.
He voiced his belief that Israel had revealed its true intentions, while humanity was demonstrating its resolve to halt these crimes and to unite as one in their shared determination. He confessed that his heart ached, the pain suppressed among the unfolding chaos as grieving for the lost could not be afforded. With tears streaming down his face, he admitted feeling a paradoxical sense of happiness to have survived, but mourned the loss of loved ones left behind, acknowledging the abnormality of his emotional state.
His wife and children had left the war-stricken region of Gaza last November and had since been campaigning tirelessly for Mr Hania’s safe evacuation. However, his exit through the Rafah crossing was denied without justification that very month. With the successful drive of donations, orchestrated by his friends and family residing in Ireland, Mr Hania finally managed to leave the battleground on Tuesday. All thanks to an Egyptian tour agency, disclosed Ms Hania, though it demanded several thousand euros.
Mazen, Mr Hania’s eldest son, reminisced about his inconsolable weeping at Dublin Airport months back, having left his father in Gaza, though he now declared with tearful joy that today was indeed a joyful day. He couldn’t believe it was happening.
Prior to her husband’s arrival, Ms Hania shared how life in Ireland was challenging without him. Disturbed sleep and persistent worry for their father, especially upon hearing news of possible invasions in Rafah, cast a perpetual shadow on their lives.
While residing in Gaza, the Hania clan were forced to leave their Gaza City home, travelling to the southern region of Khan Younis. Describing the harrowing north-to-south expedition as akin to navigating through inferno, Ms Hania recalled the frightening flight, dodging the cross-fire and threats of armed soldiers. She spoke of the nightmare, a term she used to describe how her young son, Nour, still experiences night terrors from their horrific experience.
As she shared their story, Nour clutched a bunch of flowers intended for his father. But safety has not come without cost, Ms Hania revealed that while her husband Zak and her are safe, they grieve the loss of approximately 40 family members. She explained that every home in Gaza shared their fate.
However, today’s joy is overshadowed by worry for the safety of their beloved ones still in their homeland. Their relatives, friends, and the whole population of Gaza continue to face hardship.
And while Ms Hania expressed appreciation for their Irish friends and the efforts of the Irish government that facilitated their escape, she voiced her desire to return to Gaza, a place she still considers her country and a ‘second home’.