Navan family's relief at Gaza ceasefire

The ceasefire in Gaza has come as a welcome relief to a Navan family who have been constantly worrying about their relatives in the warn torn country.

Mahmoud Abumarzouq, an orthopaedic surgeon living in Navan with his wife and family, has expressed relief at the ceasefire, saying it will give his loved ones a change to breathe and will allow humanitarian aid reach then, but says the wounds and scars caused by the war will never fade.

"My brother, Ahmet Mahmoud, was killed by an Israeli bomb last year last year and I lost my brother-in-law and uncle in October 2023.

"Those scars will never fade. We are heartbroken. My sister has been crying since the announcement of the ceasefire as it is too late for her, she lost her husband - they were together 30 years.

"My parents are devastated, they lost a son and now they have returned to their home and it is completely destroyed. My father, who is 70, has been asking how can he possibly start again."

Mahmoud's brother was just 29 years old when he was killed when an Israeli bomb hit the refugee camp in Rafah, where he was staying.

"It is heartbreaking. He was married with a little son, Faisal."

Mahmoud's brother-in-law was killed in his own home in Yabna camp, which is in the south of Rafah city.

"None of these people were involved in any of the violence. They were in their own homes when the bombings took place."

Mahmoud said the situation is heartbreaking but they are relieved it is over for now.

"We are afraid that it might not hold, that the Israeli's could start again at any time," he said.

"For now though it allows humanitarian aid into Gaza,. The situation there is terrible. It has been a struggle to get food or water, medicines. There is no electricity or clean water and there has been a complete destruction of houses and cities.

"We are happy it is over. We are delighted for the Israelis too and for the the hostages that have been released. We saw in on the news.

"We are happy for those who have survived, although they have lost so much, family members and their homes.

"I hope the ceasefire hold s and the people of Gaza can have security and self determination.

"We hope the Israelis continue to allow aid into Gaza because they need to construct infrastructure, hospitals and houses - so much was lost."

Mahmoud and his wife, Mona moved to Ireland four years ago and were moved to tears just days after their arrival when they came across a vigil in Navan by the The Meath Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

He had been worrying about his family back home in Gaza, when he came across the protest.

“My wife and I had just been doing our grocery shopping and we were coming out from Tesco when I saw the Palestinian flag.

“I thought is that our flag, and then I saw all the posters and banner and realised what was happening."

Mahmoud's home was in Rafah, just 700metres from the Israeli border and he hopes the area will remain safe.

"Our family have been refugees in Rafah. We were one of the families moved off our land in 1948," he explains. Another of his brothers was killed when the Israelis shot him in the street when he was on his way to university back in 2000.

The last 16 months have been extremely difficult for Mahmoud, his wife Mona and their children.

"We were constantly worrying about our families. We were able to talk to them at times, but the internet was very bad, so we often didn't hear from them."

He says that they were over in Gaza in the summer of 2023. "It was great to see them, they were happy and resilient, despite the blockades. What has happened since has been unimaginable.

"I am hoping that when things settle down, I will be going over there as part of a medical mission to the area.

"I am praying and keeping my fingers crossed that the ceasefire holds," he says.

"