Sundus al-Kurd's long wait came to an emotional end as she was reunited with her daughter Bisan, who had been evacuated from Egypt after more than two years of separation. This reunion is part of a broader context where at least eight children, who were premature babies and evacuated during the early weeks of the war, have returned to their families.
The journey of these toddlers began in November 2023, during heavy fighting at Gaza's Shifa Hospital, which had been occupied by Israeli forces. Sundus described her feelings of both fear and joy as she waited to embrace Bisan again, gripping a pink-embroidered dress that she had prepared for her daughter.
The mother had attempted to take her newborn out of the hospital during the tumult but was stopped. What followed was many months of despair, fearing she would never see her child again.
After nearly a year, news that Bisan was alive and well reached Sundus, identified only by a pink bracelet given after birth. After losing another child along with family members prior to Bisan's birth, the news felt surreal to Sundus.
The return of these babies is seen as a small success amid the turmoil resulting from the US-led ceasefire, yet Gaza remains in a precarious state, with political divisions and ongoing military tensions complicating future prospects for peace and rebuilding.
Authorities and advocates monitor the situation closely as reconstruction efforts are linked to disarmament agreements from Hamas, demonstrating the intricate relationship between humanitarian needs and political actions in the region.
