Tears, relief as Malaysian returns from Gaza to family’s embrace

 

Nurul Ain Haron (second from right) and her Palestinian husband embraced by her family after they arrived from Palestine tonight.

SEPANG: In an emotional homecoming, Nurul Ain Haron, who was recently evacuated from Gaza by the government, was reunited with her family, marking an end to her harrowing experience in the conflict-ridden region.

Nurul and her husband initially resisted leaving Gaza, where their family resides, but the deteriorating situation forced them to reconsider.

“The situation has worsened, even worse than in 2014,” she told reporters after returning to home soil at KLIA Terminal 1.

Nurul Ain Haron receiving a kiss from her aunt after arriving at KLIA Terminal 1 with her husband.

Nurul recounted the loss of family members in Palestine just days after they had a meal together.

“Three days before, they cooked for us, and after that, we found out that their house had been struck by eight missiles,” she shared, a sombre reminder of the ongoing conflict’s toll on civilian lives.

She said the situation in Gaza is dire, with essential supplies running dangerously low and the area going without electricity and water supply for over a month now.

Despite the relief of leaving Gaza, Nurul said she remained committed to helping those left behind.

An emotional Nurul Ain Haron could not hold back her tears as she spoke to the media after being evacuated from Gaza.

She said she would find a way to effectively aid others outside of Gaza, noting the challenges posed by Israel’s restrictions on financial channels like Western Union, severely limiting the ability to send aid.

She also thanked Putrajaya for facilitating her departure from the conflict region.

“Thank you Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and also the ambassador in Cairo and the foreign affairs ministry. I was received by the ambassador in Doha as well,” she said.

Earlier, Nurul’s father, Haron Hamim, 65, said he was very grateful to be reunited with his daughter, whom he has not met for a year.

“I am grateful that my daughter has arrived safely. We are very happy.

“At first, as a father, I was frightened when the war broke out. But after seeing her doing charitable work there, my heart was at ease.”

The foreign affairs ministry said Nurul and her Palestinian husband were safely evacuated through the Rafah border crossing from Gaza into Egypt. - FMT