Irish-Palestinian family had to pay almost €5k to get Zak Hania out of Gaza

Batoul Hania with her sons Mazen, 19, Ismael, 17, Ahmed, 14 and Nour Mohamed, 11, who had to flee from their home in Gaza because of the bombardment of their neighbourhood by the Israeli Defence Forces. Their father Zak is due home in Dublin on Saturday. Photo: Moya Nolan

The family of an Irish citizen rescued from war-torn Gaza, has said they had to pay almost €5,000 to a travel agency in Egypt to get him out safely.

Zak Hania is due home to Dublin on Saturday after his wife and four sons were rescued by the Irish government last November. After they landed in Dublin, the eldest boy Mazen pleaded for the safe return of his father.

Images of the distressed teen — who described his journey “through hell” to get out of Gaza safely — made international headlines. “We had to leave our father behind,” said Mazen, 19 at the time. “He is still trapped, and I have to be the father now."

However, the government was unable to secure Zak’s evacuation.

Batoul Hania, Zak’s wife said she had to raise €4,600 ($5,000) to pay an agency to help get her husband out of Gaza.

“We were in regular contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs, but they were not able to get him out and I don’t know why,” she said.

The mother-of-four said she travelled to Egypt five weeks ago and contacted a travel agency in Cairo called Ya Hala — a company which arranges for relatives in the Gaza Strip to receive an exit ticket through the Rafah crossing.

Batoul and Zak moved to Ireland to work in 2003 and their children Mazen, 19; Ismael, 17; Ahmed, 14; and Nour-Mohamed, 11, were all born here. Batoul said her children can 'hardly believe their dad is coming home'. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

“It is $5,000 to get out and you can only be a direct relative,” she said. “I went to them and gave them Zak’s documents and details and proof of relationship, and the money.

“They told me to wait for one month, or 40 days until his name appears on the list. It was risky, he can be refused, the names have to be displayed to the Israeli side too, not just the Egyptians. I was hopeful for this to work. I said 'let’s give it a try'."

Zak Hania was registered to exit Gaza on April 7 and his name was announced by the agency to leave on April 30.

“We have a telegram link, everyone can access it, and you can see the names on the evacuation list,” said Batoul. “It is done day by day, so you must check it regularly, the names can go up at midnight. In Zak’s case it was 2am and he had to be at the border by 8am. It is very tight.

When he got there on Monday, he had to wait from 8am to 8pm before the bus took him to Cairo. The Israeli’s do this deliberately I believe, just to torture you a bit more. 

"The bus to Cairo was seven hours. He arrived Wednesday at 4am."

Batoul and Zak moved to Ireland to work in 2003 and their children Mazen, 19; Ismael, 17; Ahmed, 14; and Nour-Mohamed, 11, were all born here. Batoul said her children can “hardly believe their dad is coming home”.

“The Irish government did their best. Even when I was in Egypt, I met the Ambassador to Ireland she was really welcoming and feeling sorry for me going through this.

“I know that Micheál Martin was at the border recently, I was hoping that he mentioned Zak's name, but he didn’t. I know that politically they should have the power to do this, but I understand the aggression of Israel too.

“The Irish Embassy insisted on booking Zak’s flight and looking after him. He is exhausted but very happy."

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said it “has assisted over 100 Irish citizens and dependents to leave Gaza since the beginning of the crisis. A small number of Irish citizens or immediate dependents of Irish citizens remain in Gaza". 

"Our Embassies in the region are in regular contact with those Irish citizens remaining in Gaza," it said.