TUI conference calls for ceasefire in Gaza

• Published date: 05 April 2024
• Author: EMMET MALONE
• Publication title: Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland)

yesterday

The conference passed motions condemning the war and calling for an immediate ceasefire, but for the Sligo-based lecturer, the crisis is all deeply personal, with close family members trapped or missing in Gaza while his parents and one sister wait in Cairo for permission to join him in Ireland.

Dr Gharbia, who moved to Ireland 10 years ago, has become an Irish citizen and is head of environmental science at Atlantic University, Sligo. He is concerned for the health of his parents, Said and Afaf, who are diabetic, but is relieved that along with his sister Zaina, they have at least made it to Egypt.

Missing

His other sisters are still in Gaza and while he is in intermittent and indirect contact with Nour after an initial break, he has not heard from Naima in several weeks and his concern for her is clear as he speaks. Each has three children.

“My parents are now in Cairo working on their paperwork and hopefully there’ll be joining us here,” he says. “My sisters are still in Gaza, I lost contact with them for a period of over 15 weeks. They went missing. We managed to locate one but we’re not in direct contact. My other sister I still have no news of. Hopefully she and her kids are safe somewhere.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs has provided assistance but, he says, “there is not much they can do beyond making inquiries, the whole area is controlled by Israel”. He has been supported by some of his local TDs...