'Our children never got the chance to meet their own cousins'

A Gortahork woman whose three children never got the chance to meet their cousins has urged the powers that be to do the right thing and call for a ceasefire in the Middle East.

Josephine Hajjaj, a Letterkenny-based primary school teacher, admits that she finds it difficult to watch the news of the Israeli bombardment in Gaza, which, as of Monday, has seen over 13,300 killed in six weeks, including 5,600 children and 3,550 women.

Growing up in the Gaeltacht was a world away from the tensions in the Middle East for Josephine Gallagher, as she was then. Having graduated from St Patrick’s College in Drumcondra, she and a friend went to Abu Dhabi in 2009. In her 10 years there, where she taught at Emirates National School, she met her now husband, Muther. Having made the decision to move to Donegal, they now have three children - Tia (9), Angela (7) and six-month-old Rayan.

“Growing up I would’ve seen Gaza on the news but never really understood it,” Josephine tells DonegalLive.

Munther and his immediate family were based in Abu Dhabi, his father Mahmoud an engineer, and his mother Amal cared for Munther and his six siblings. As the children grew up they all went their own ways. Some went back to Gaza and others stayed in Abu Dhabi.

“Gaza is and has, for years, been controlled by Israel,” Josephine adds. “Occupation has been part of life with the Palestinian people basically walled in, while Israel controls what gets in - basics like food, water and medical supplies.They can also cut off the electricity, water supply and internet whenever they please.

“If a Palestinian in Gaza wants to enter Israel, even for a serious medical condition, they are forced to apply for a permit, which is commonly refused. If they want to leave through the Rafah border to Egypt they need to put their name on a list weeks in advance. The same thing is happening in the West Bank. Palestinian homes are constantly being occupied by settlers. These are crimes that have been happening for many years."

Tensions exploded on October 7 when fighters from Hamas - a Palestinian militant group in government - breached the border and killed 1,200 Israeli civilians with soldiers caught off guard. Israel’s response since, though, has been dubbed as “genocidal.”

Israel has been expanding its ground operation in Gaza, with infantry and armoured vehicles backed by strikes from the air and sea with the 2 million Palestine inhabitants effectively boxed in the enclave half the size of Inishowen. Israel has been accused of showing no regard for international law, blocking off aid convoys, electricity, medical and water supplies.

Palestinians and their supporters, though, have made continual reference to their inhumane treatment since the state of Israel was founded in 1948. The Nakba, known as the Palestinian Catastrophe, was the displacement of 750,000 Palestinian Arabs from their homes by forceful means.

With communication difficult, Munther, on October 29 received the news that nobody ever wishes to hear. A bombing in their neighbourhood in the North of Gaza resulted in the deaths of his niece Amal (8) and nephew Mohammed (6).

“They were in the part of the house that was damaged by the impact of a nearby bombing” Josephine adds. “Communication has been incredibly difficult, with electricity being powered on and off before Munther eventually heard the terrible news.

“Our children never got the chance to meet their own cousins because it’s difficult for them to leave Gaza and just as difficult for us to enter. As parents, we have always tried to teach our children to have empathy and kindness towards others, that everyone is equal and we should treat everyone how we want to be treated, yet this is going on and their family is in the middle of it. How can you explain this to a child? When they say to you: ‘This is not fair. Why is this happening?’ It’s difficult to know what answer to give them because they are right. It’s not fair. It’s completely unjust.

“We have tried to limit the information we are giving but they know the bare minimum and are worried about their grandparents. They call them Tata and Sedo and they loved spending time with them while we lived in Abu Dhabi. They are beautiful, loving people. The best grandparents to our children. What is happening is simply not right.”

“Munther’s family home is in the North of Gaza and when they were initially told to make their way South, they did so in the hope they would be able to stay safe. However, Israel continued heavy bombardment in the South, even though they were told to evacuate to that area. For this reason, they decided to go back to their house in the North. Then, when ground strikes began in the North and attacks were happening by air, sea and ground, they evacuated again. This time maybe 20 miles by foot, with nowhere to stay only for a friend to help them out. This is no way for people to be forced to live their lives.

“When you tear away some of the misinformation being portrayed, It’s impossible to deny the facts. Journalists on the ground in Gaza are showing us exactly what’s happening on their social media platforms. Innocent civilians including children, women, men, medical workers, journalists, and humanitarian workers are all being slaughtered. Thousands are trapped under the rubble and there are many who have lost limbs. It’s absolutely horrific and would never be allowed to happen in any Western country. There are now children in Gaza known by the acronym - WCNSF - Wounded Child No Surviving Family. Parents are writing children’s names on their limbs, so they can be recognised. It can only be described as a genocide.”

Whilst the situation between Israel and Palestine can be claimed to be a complicated one, Josephine believes that the next step could not be simpler.

“The severity of the attacks is difficult to comprehend. What needs to happen is an immediate ceasefire,” she says. “This is not anti-Jewish, anti-Israeli or anti-Semitic, it’s about doing the right thing. It’s about humanity. Then, when fire is ceased and humanitarian aid is let in, let them decide on the next steps needed to maintain peace. Children are being killed and the horrific things going on - from both sides - need to stop.

“The message coming out from the governments of the world is that some people are more important than others, all depending on where you are born. When attacks started in Ukraine, leaders were very quick to call out Russia for war crimes. However, when the same crimes are being committed in Gaza but on a much larger scale, the world is silent and the silence is deafening”

A march and rally took place in Letterkenny earlier this month, in solidarity with the people of Palestine. The newest branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) was established in Donegal and with the Trade Union Friends of Palestine, the march made its way from St Conal's Hospital to An Grianan Theatre.

IPSC Secretary Fadl Mustapha, who has lived in Letterkenny for 19 years and is a third-generation refugee of Palestine, said: “At this stage, you’re either pro-humanity or pro-genocide.”

That afternoon, at An Grianan Theatre, he invited Josephine to address the crowd, which was in the region of 450. Local support, she adds, “has been amazing.”

“Most of my husband’s family are in Gaza,” she said at the rally. “Their people have been through so much but this time, when we saw the severity of it, we just couldn’t comprehend it. It’s unbelievable that such genocide can take place in front of our eyes.

“My children are half-Palestinian, a people who are the most proud, strong, resilient, kind-hearted and selfless people. I’m so proud I am part of that.”

She continues: “ Long before I met my husband and his family, I taught Palestinian children and worked alongside Palestinian teachers. They’re the most respectful, mannerly and caring people I have ever met. People just like you and I, deserve the same rights as we all expect.”