Mayo student trapped in war-torn Gaza offers shelter amidst chaos
By Caoimhín Rowland
A MAYO student is among the 35 Irish citizens facing the harrowing reality of being trapped in war-torn Gaza.
However, despite the chaos on the ground there, Saeed Sadeq's sense of positivity and high spirits shine through as he offers help to others in desperate need.
A former St. Joseph's Secondary School student hailing from Foxford, 21-year-old Saeed's educational journey led him to Gaza University, a prestigious institution in his parents' native Palestine. Despite the challenges, he remains resolute about his decision, proudly stating: “In Gaza University, I could learn from the best.”
Saeed's educational pursuit in Gaza offered the advantage of being close to his grandmother and cousins, who strongly encouraged his educational journey.
Speaking to The Connaught Telegraph, Saeed described Gaza as a beautiful city with Mediterranean beaches, vibrant surroundings, and top-notch facilities at Gaza University, which boasted renowned lecturers and state-of-the-art labs. However, on October 11, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a video depicting their bombs reducing Gaza University to rubble.
Saeed, who was fortunately away from the university then, has since been aiding others who had to flee the north of Gaza. He is providing shelter and support to those who have nowhere else to turn.
Two separate families have taken shelter in Saeed's apartment in Khan Younis, 30 minutes from Gaza City.
“We have no food, no water, but the least I could do is give them shelter,” Saeed explained, reflecting his resilience and determination to help others.
Amidst the turmoil, Saeed's sense of positivity and high spirits shine through. His tongue-in-cheek comments on RTÉ radio's Morning Ireland about 'riding a horse to Raffah if I have to' garnered global attention. Saeed admitted it was a joke, but he remains optimistic about eventually securing a taxi to safety once the borders reopen.
Saeed’s family reside in Bohola, and his parents constantly check on his well-being, which he describes as ‘heartbreaking’.
His father, Adli Sadeq, a former Palestinian ambassador to Algeria and Romania, moved to Ireland in 2016.
Saeed proudly mentioned his father’s contribution to Irish culture. He wrote the first book about Ireland and Irish history in Arabic to help the Arab world better understand ‘the most supportive European country to Palestine’.
He stated: “The people here in Palestine know a lot about Ireland and appreciate the support we receive from Ireland.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs emphasised that evacuations are proceeding country-by-country, and the process may take some time.
Saeed considers himself fortunate as an Irish citizen and revealed: “I know Americans who have left already, and they are concentrating on the bigger countries with more people here like France, Germany, Canada and Belgium.”
The Irish Embassy remains in constant communication with Saeed and other Irish citizens in Gaza.
The department further stated: “Irish citizens are not included in any lists yet, but we continue to urgently seek to have Irish citizens included on the list in the coming days. Our embassies in Cairo and Tel Aviv are in regular communication with the authorities in Egypt and Israel. We also remain in ongoing communication with Irish citizens on the ground.”
Local Sinn Féin Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh, whose party stated the Israeli ambassador Dana Erlich’s position is no longer tenable due to the lack of a ceasefire, called for an end to the conflict and for the safe travel of all Irish citizens in Gaza.
She supports the border reopening as soon as possible.