Gaza-Israel: 'My son has been crying for his mamma'

A Belfast-born man whose wife and other family members were killed in Gaza has said there is no safe passage for his children who remain there.

Khalid El-Estal said he was working in Saudi Arabia while his family stayed in the Palestinian territory.

His children - four-year-old Ali and one-year-old Sara - are in Gaza with their grandparents.

Mr El-Estal, 30, came to Northern Ireland after his wife, Ashwak Jendia, was killed along with his mother, brother, uncle and two cousins.

He said he was working to find a way out for his children, so he can bring them to Belfast.

Sinn Féin TD Chris Andrews said Mr El-Estal was in a "terrible position" and it was important that, as an Irish citizen, his children got "safe passage" and were reunited with him.

Israel began bombing Gaza after Hamas, which is a designated terrorist group in the UK and the US, killed more than 1,400 Israelis and kidnapped more than 200 others in attacks on 7 October.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said more than 10,000 people had been killed in the territory since 7 October.