A Malaysian woman and her Palestinian spouse have safely returned to Kuala Lumpur after being stranded in the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip for the past month. The emotional reunion occurred at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 on the evening of November 14 as the couple arrived from Doha, Qatar.
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Nurul Ain Haron, 37, and her 33-year-old husband, Mohamed AM Shaat, were successfully evacuated to Egypt via the Rafah border crossing on November 12 with the assistance of the Malaysian Embassy in Cairo, as reported by Harian Metro.
Initially reluctant to leave Gaza and Shaat's family, the couple was compelled to alter their plans due to deteriorating conditions, redirecting their focus to providing aid to the Palestinian people. Nurul Ain explained that she had received numerous public donations intended for distribution among Palestinians.
Expressing the gravity of the situation in Gaza, Nurul Ain mentioned the challenges faced, including difficulties in withdrawing money due to the disruption of the international money transfer network by Israel. She emphasized the urgency of leaving Gaza to take further steps and continue aiding the Palestinians.
Despite being back in Malaysia, Nurul Ain affirmed her commitment to channelling aid to Gaza, emphasizing the severe shortage of food and essential supplies caused by the destruction of the largest factory and the prolonged lack of water and electricity.
Credit: Mohd Fadli Hamzah/Harian Metro
While grateful for the safety of her husband's family in Gaza, Nurul Ain acknowledged the ongoing challenges and expressed confidence in leaving their well-being in the hands of Allah.
Nurul Ain's father, Haron Hamim, aged 65, expressed his joy at finally reuniting with his daughter after nearly a year. Proud of her charitable efforts in Gaza, he described her work as heartwarming and commended her strength in the face of danger, considering it a form of "jihad" or struggle to help those in need. Haron expressed gratitude to the Malaysian government, specifically Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, for ensuring the safety of his daughter and son-in-law during the evacuation.
Cover image credit: Mohd Fadli Hamzah/Harian Metro and Faisol Musafa/Utusan Malaysia