Wirral family distraught as mother trapped in Gaza

Mr Chihaoui has not seen his wife since she left for Gaza in September

A distraught husband has told how his young children cry everyday for their mother, who is trapped in Gaza.

Teacher Islam Alashi, 37, left her home in Wirral to visit her sick father before the war between Israel and Hamas erupted.

Ms Alashi is sheltering in the city of Khan Younis, but has run out of food and is now drinking rainwater.

Husband Feiz Chihaoui, 45, said he wakes up every day saying "I hope she'll be alive".

Mr Chihaoui last spoke to his wife on Thursday, with missiles raining down around her.

"She answered the phone and she was crying and she was telling me I don't know if I'm going to die now or I'm going to survive," he said.

"I'm very depressed. I feel so lonely, the kids when they're going to school and at night-time are crying saying I miss my mum."

Ms Alashi, who lives in Wallasey with Mr Chihaoui and their two children, travelled to Gaza on 16 September.

Ms Alashi travelled to the region to visit her sick father

She was staying near the Al-Shifa hospital, scene of some of heaviest bombing and fiercest fighting in Gaza City, but after her aunt's house was badly damaged by shelling she walked 13km south to Khan Younis.

Her sick father accompanied her in a donkey cart as he could not walk.

The family's MP Angela Eagle has raised her case and her name is now on the list of people the UK wants to get out of Gaza.

"We just want to get the kids' mother back," Mr Chihaoui said.

"Every day when I wake up I say I hope she'll be alive. I just want her to get out."

Christina Lahive, who is the head teacher at the primary school where Ms Alashi's children attend, said: "The children still have not got their mother, she may be on the list, but she's not here and we need to her here."