Gaza psychologist separated from husband by war, dreams of family on hold
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Halima Hatab, a psychologist from Gaza, recounts the separation from her husband Omar due to the ongoing conflict and economic hardship.
- The couple's dream of starting a family through IVF was repeatedly thwarted by the high costs in Gaza and later by the war, which prevented Halima from joining Omar in Kuwait.
- Trapped in Gaza, Halima endures the daily horrors of war, displacement, and the profound absence of her husband, highlighting the devastating personal toll of the conflict.
This is a deeply personal and harrowing account from Gaza, illustrating the devastating human cost of the ongoing conflict. Halima Hatab's story, as told through Kim Hong-mo's sensitive portrayal, transcends mere news reporting. It is a raw testament to the shattered dreams and enduring separation faced by countless families caught in the crossfire.
My husband Omar, 40, left the Gaza Strip in April 2023 — six months before the war broke out.
The narrative powerfully conveys the impossible choices individuals are forced to make when economic necessity drives loved ones away, only for war to cruelly sever the remaining threads of connection. The dream of a child, a universal aspiration, becomes an insurmountable hurdle due to the dual burdens of exorbitant medical costs and the brutal realities of a war zone.
Because of the price tag that the treatment carries in Gaza, we were forced to put our dreams of starting a family on hold.
From the perspective of Hankyoreh, a publication committed to shedding light on the human impact of global events, Halima's testimony is crucial. It underscores the urgent need for peace and the profound disruption war inflicts on the most intimate aspects of life – family, hope, and the pursuit of happiness. This story is not just about separation; it's about the systematic dismantling of a future, a reality often overlooked in broader geopolitical analyses.
That’s when the war broke out in October 2023.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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