September 14, 2026
News
For many parents, the thought of being separated from their children is unbearable. Yet war has a way of turning such nightmares into reality. Nesma knows this all too well. In October 2023, she accompanied her son to the West Bank so that he could undergo heart surgery. When the conflict in Gaza erupted, their journey home became unexpectedly complicated. Nesma was separated from her twelve other children for months. The testimony of her family is a stark reminder of the devastating impact armed conflicts have on the lives of innocent civilians. What role did Caritas Czech Republic play in their story?
She wanted to accompany her son to surgery
At the age of forty-two, Nesma was raising thirteen children. The heart surgery recommended for her eighteen-year-old son could not be performed in the Gaza Strip, so the two travelled to Ramallah in the West Bank. Back home, the younger siblings were cared for by Nesma’s eldest daughter, Naima, who was already married.
When the conflict erupted in Gaza, Nesma and her son were still in hospital. They had no way of contacting their family, and the mother was gripped by fear for the children she had left behind. At the same time, she knew that her son needed medical care and that she could not abandon him. She found herself facing an impossible choice: return home to her other children or remain by the side of her sick son.
Photo: The conflict in Gaza has lasted for nearly three years
Soon afterwards, however, she was separated from all of her children. It happened in Ramallah when she went to collect the results of medical examinations. She was detained at a military checkpoint because she carried an identity document issued in Gaza.
Separated from her family for long months
For the next nine months, Nesma was held in detention, where she faced interrogations, harsh treatment, and daily humiliation. The hardest part, though, was having no information about her family’s fate. She did not know whether her children in Gaza were still alive, nor how her son was doing in hospital in the West Bank.
Eventually, the authorities deported her back to the Gaza Strip, confiscating her personal belongings and identity documents. Upon her return, Nesma found her family home reduced to rubble. In desperation, she set out to find her children, who had survived the conflict.
Her eldest daughter, Naima, had been shot and was left paralysed by her injuries. During her mother’s absence, she had cared for her younger siblings. In the end, however, it was she who needed her Nesma’s care the most.
Back with her children in Gaza
Today, the family lives in an overcrowded shelter located beneath an unstable, crumbling building. Conditions are extremely poor, with inadequate sanitation and a severe rodent infestation.
Photo: Nesma's family lives in extremely difficult conditions
During this difficult time, Caritas Czech Republic offered a helping hand to the family. Our colleague in the Gaza Strip provided them with a tent and continues to search for a safer place where they could temporarily relocate. Through other humanitarian organisations, the social worker has also helped secure financial assistance for the family, including support for food and medicine.
She has also provided Nesma with much-needed psychological support. The months she spent in detention, along with the hardships that followed, have taken a significant toll on her mental health. Thanks to regular counselling sessions with our colleague, Nesma has had an opportunity to process her emotions and talk about the traumatic experiences she has endured as a result of the conflict in Gaza.
Nesma's journey is far from over. With your ongoing support, we can continue to provide this resilient mother and her injured daughter with the vital care, shelter, and dignity they deserve,
says the social worker. Her son remains in the hospital in Ramallah and requires constant care. Nobody from the family can keep him company now. Occasionally, he receives humanitarian assistance.
Caritas Czech Republic in Gaza
We launched the Caritas for Gaza fundraising campaign in October 2023. In the past, we focused primarily on supporting local healthcare. We collaborated with Caritas Jerusalem and the Juzoor organisation, which continue to operate medical clinics on the ground.
We are now concentrating on psychosocial support. Thanks to the work of our colleague, we provide people with vital individual assistance. At the same time, we support the Sawa organisation, which operates a crisis hotline in Gaza and the West Bank.
Please join us in supporting the people of Gaza. Thank you!
