After appeal, mother finally allowed to leave Gaza to return to sick 3-year-old daughter

Ma'an - A mother who had been stranded in Gaza was allowed to return to her husband and sick 3-year-old daughter in the West Bank on Thursday.

Ma'an published an appeal on 29 August by Osama Rasras, from Beit Ummar near Hebron, asking for help to secure a permit for his wife and two sons to return home.

Osama's wife and three children had traveled to Gaza to visit his sick father-in-law, but Israeli authorities refused to allow them to leave. After 18 months, Osama's daughter Dalal, who suffers from cerebral atrophy and could not receive medication in the Strip, was granted permission to return to her home but without her mother or brothers.

"I began to play the role of a mother and father together. I cook, wash clothes, and arrange the house," Osama explained. "My family was torn apart."

Ma'an followed up on Osama's appeal with the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Undersecretary Ayman Qandil said the entire staff of the ministry, headed by Husein Ash-Sheikh, would ensure the family was reunited quickly.

On Wednesday, Qandil called Ma'an to say that following ministerial pressure, Israel approved the reunification. The family was reunited Thursday.

Osama thanked the ministry and Ma'an. "My happiness cannot be described," he said.