Gaza: Belfast-born man confirms his two children have crossed border

Ali and Sara in Egypt

Ali and Sara in Egypt on Friday after leaving Gaza via the Rafah crossing

A Belfast-born man whose wife and other family members were killed in Gaza has said his children have crossed the border into Egypt.

Khalid El-Estal, 30, had appealed for help reuniting with his children.

His four-year-old son Ali and one-year-old daughter Sara have now been allowed through the Rafah border crossing.

Mr El-Estal told BBC News NI that it was a "great feeling" to know his children were on their way to him.

"It's hard for me but for my wife I will take care of the children. I will do my best to be strong," he said.

"The thing that hurts me is that they will not be able to remember their mother as I remember her."

Mr El-Estal was born in Belfast and attended primary school in the Botanic area while his father worked as a lecturer at Queen's University.

When he was aged eight, the family relocated to Gaza, where he met his wife, Ashwak Jendia, at university.

Israel began bombarding Gaza after Hamas's 7 October attacks, in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 hostages were taken.

Khalid El-Estal

Mr El-Estal's wife Ashwak Jendia, pictured with their children Ali and Sara, was killed by Israeli bombing

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 11,500 people have been killed in the territory since 7 October - of whom more than 4,500 were children.

Mr El-Estal was working in Saudi Arabia when his wife was killed along with his mother, brother, uncle and two cousins.

Evacuations

On Wednesday, Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin said 23 Irish citizens had crossed into Egypt from Gaza.

He said it was "very welcome news" that some families with children had successfully crossed the Rafah checkpoint.

Mr Martin said another group of about 40 Irish citizens and dependents were due to leave the warzone.

Khalid El-Estal

Khalid El-Estal met Ashwak Jendia at university

On Thursday, the tánaiste travelled to southern Israel, following a visit to Egypt on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters there he said three more Irish citizens had crossed into Egypt on Thursday, a lower number than hoped for, due to "processing delays".

He also said the Israeli foreign minister, Eli Cohen, has assured him that the majority of Irish citizens remaining in Gaza would be able to exit in the coming days.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said 26 Irish citizens and dependants had crossed the border into Egypt on Wednesday and Thursday, where they are receiving support from the Irish Embassy in Cairo.

A spokesperson added: "Embassy staff are at the border today again. A number of Irish citizens and their families are in the process of crossing. We hope to be able to confirm more details later in the day."

Foreign passport holders are exiting Gaza via the Rafah crossing

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