‘I cannot carry all of this alone’: the couples kept apart by the war in Gaza

What Happened

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in the prolonged separation of families, including the families of Wijdan Abu Matar and Sami Abu Tabaq, who have been displaced to Egypt while their relatives remain in the Gaza Strip. Wijdan Abu Matar, who fled to Egypt in November 2023 following an Israeli strike on the al-Muhandseen tower in Nuseirat, remains separated from her husband, Hatem, who is currently displaced in a tent in Nuseirat with a mobility-limiting leg injury. Separately, photojournalist Sami Abu Tabaq, who evacuated to Egypt in April 2024, remains separated from his fiancee, Ola, who is currently in Gaza City. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, at least 73,783 Palestinians have been killed and 174,738 wounded since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The accounts highlight the humanitarian consequences of the conflict, specifically the long-term displacement and fragmentation of families who lack the financial means or logistical pathways to reunite across the Egypt-Gaza border. The inability of civilians to access medical care, education, and basic sustenance while separated from their support networks underscores the deepening socio-economic collapse within the Gaza Strip.

Watch For

Monitor for any changes in border crossing policies at the Rafah crossing or other exit points that might facilitate family reunification, as well as ongoing reports regarding the status of medical and humanitarian aid access for displaced individuals in Egypt and those remaining in Gaza.