Palestinian Cancer Patient Returns Home After Two-Year Stay in Egypt

Family Reunited with Matriarch After Two-Year Separation

The al-Najjar family has been reunited with their matriarch, Mariam, who returned to Gaza via the Rafah crossing. The reunion took place at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, where the family had gathered early to await her arrival.

Mariam, who had traveled to Egypt for cancer treatment in March 2024, has been separated from her family for nearly two years due to Israel’s restrictions on the Rafah crossing. Her son, Mohammad al-Najjar, stated that his mother feels happy to be reunited with him and other family members.

The family has suffered significant losses during the conflict, including the loss of a brother and homes. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with many families still waiting to return home due to restrictions on travel through the Rafah crossing.

Israel seized control of the Rafah crossing in May 2024, restricting access for humanitarian supplies and medical evacuations. The United States-brokered “ceasefire” came into effect in October, but Israel has imposed severe limits on traveler movement and security checks at the crossing.

Prior plans with the World Health Organization (WHO) had called for 50 patients to be allowed to exit Gaza daily, but only five were permitted on February 2. Mariam’s return was facilitated by a partial reopening of the crossing, which allowed her to disembark from a bus and reunite with her family.

Mariam expressed her gratitude for being able to return home, stating that she would not find another place like Gaza even if she searched the world. However, her family is currently unable to return to their destroyed homes due to the Israeli buffer zone.

The reunion highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Palestinians in returning home through the Rafah crossing, which remains heavily restricted and tightly controlled. Many families are still waiting, separated not just by distance but also by borders, paperwork, and uncertain timelines.

Source: Al Jazeera