Two Tales Of Love, Tears & Struggle
Israel has started withdrawing troops from different parts of the Gaza Strip as the ceasefire began on October 10, 2025. Although the ceasefire has brought temporary relief to millions of civilians caught in the crossfire, the devastating effects of the Israel-Hamas War and a fragile peace deal have left many Gazans with a mix of optimism, anxiety and grief. People have lost their near and dear ones in Gaza, while their savings have almost hit rock bottom during the war. Hence, the immediate goals of the Gazans are survival, addressing the catastrophic humanitarian crisis and employment (for restoring livelihoods).
Abdelrahman Abu Taqyia and his wife Hadeel Sbakhi, the residents of southern Gaza, recently told the press: “The war has finally stopped. Our happiness is so profound and overwhelming that spoken language is insufficient to convey its depth. The global community cannot feel it. However, the pain of losing loved ones in war is a deeply traumatic experience.” The counterattack in Gaza began immediately after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and Hadeel lost her beloved uncle in an Israeli airstrike in February 2024. Abdel has stressed: “It would have been better if the war had stopped a few days earlier. At least many people would have survived. Many would not have had to spend their days in relief camps.“
According to the 27-year-old Abdel, there is not a single family (in Gaza) that has not lost a loved one in the war. He told the press: “Whenever I went out to collect food, drinking water or for any other purpose, I was always afraid that an Israeli missile would strike.” He further said: “I used to go to bed every night unsure whether I would even see the next morning. Now, I shall be able to sleep peacefully.“
Following the ceasefire deal between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas Movement brokered by the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, humanitarian aid is beginning to flow into Gaza where famine had been declared in some areas. However, aid groups have claimed that the volume of supplies is a small fraction of what is needed and that significant obstacles to delivery remain. “We will be able to eat well after a long time. Hopefully, we will get meat in the next few days,” stated Abdel. It may be noted that the couple has not consumed meat or any nutritious food for over six months.
Abdel and Hadeel used to work as content writers before the war. As the couple is good at English, they also worked as a translator and teacher in their spare time. Even, they started a content marketing business. They also had two offices, including one in Khan Yunis. Although Israeli airstrikes destroyed those offices, their residence still remains intact. Now, they want to leave Gaza. “Gaza has been reduced to sand and rubble. People have no future here. We have decided to go to Egypt. Later, we will try to go to a European country, such as Italy, Spain or Ireland,” said Abdel.
Meanwhile, Hadeel believes that the future of Gaza would be determined by the Israeli military as per the US’ instructions. She has claimed that Israel ruined the economy of the Gaza Strip, apart from destroying the banking services. Hence, people have to rely on brokers to receive cash. “We are depending on savings and donations. Even a month ago, brokers used to take 50% commission to provide us with cash. Now, they are charging 35%,” she told the media. The extremely high and fluctuating commissions reflect the collapsing banking system, scarcity of cash and the desperation of people relying on financial aid.
The price of a litre of milk was just USD 2 before the war. Now, it costs USD 8. Similarly, the price of a kilogramme of powdered milk has jumped from USD 6 to USD 20 in the last couple of years. Currently, the Gazans pay USD 5 for a soap and USD 1.5 for analgesics. “The people of Gaza are fighting two different wars simultaneously… one that the whole world can see and a second one to get safe drinking water, as well as food,” said Hadeel. For his part, Abdel stated: “If someone fails to collect water from the truck at the specified time, then s/he has to spend the whole day without water. There is no work, so most people depend on relief. They have to fight to collect relief materials. Else, they have to die.”
The couple has urged the global community to keep in mind who the real residents of the Gaza Strip are while judging the situation. Abdel and Hadeel, like their compatriots, do not want war, but to live in peace.
Noa Reunites With Avinatan
They were reunited after 738 days or 17,712 hours on October 13, 2025! Avinatan Or, after being freed by Hamas, hugged his fiancée Noa Argamani upon his arrival in Israel. Last Monday, Hamas released all the 20 Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip for more than two years and the 32-year-old Avinatan is one of them.
It may be noted that both Noa and Avinatan were kidnapped by the Palestinian Movement from the Supernova Music Festival on October 7, 2023. Footage of their abduction, showing Noa being taken away on a motorcycle as she cried out and reached for Avinatan, became a widely recognised symbol of the Hamas attack. Although the Israeli forces rescued Noa alive in June 2024, they failed to trace Avinatan in Gaza. After being held in separate captivity for over two years, they were finally reunited on October 13, 2025.
Noa, along with the family members of Avinatan, was waiting for her soulmate at the Israel-Gaza border. She became emotional soon after Avinatan crossed the border. Their reunion was a highly anticipated and deeply emotional moment, marking the end of a long and traumatic separation. A video shared by the Israel Defence Force (IDF) shows the couple reuniting after the release of Avinatan. In the emotional footage, the couple embraces and kisses, contrasting sharply with the terrifying images of their abduction.
In August 2024, Noa told AFP: “Every night I was falling asleep and thinking, this may be the last night of my life.” She stressed: “I lost a lot of weight. We drank something like less than a day, and there were days that we (were not allowed) to drink at all. (Things like) scuba diving, everything that I liked to do in my free time before, it really helped me to get to just release, to know that if today I’m okay, I don’t need to worry about the future.” She further said: “And until the moment I was (rescued)… I just did not believe that I’m still surviving.” Referring to Israel’s counteroffensive in the Gaza Strip and the risky rescue mission, Noa stated: “And in this moment that I’m still sitting with you, it’s a miracle that I’m here. It’s a miracle because I survived October 7, and I survived this bombing, and I also survived the rescue.“
On the second anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack, Noa wrote on social media: “I miss Avinatan more with every passing day. We pray that in the next few days we will hear good news, and by the end of this holiday, we will see our loved ones again.“
The couple has spent more of their relationship apart than they had together.
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Boundless Ocean Of Politics 