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‘Back to constant fear’: Palestinians in UAE watch in horror as Gaza truce collapses
Israel launched full-scale attacks on the enclave on March 18, killing at least 404 people and injuring 562
- PUBLISHED: Tue 18 Mar 2025, 6:35 PM
Yusuf Abu Hattab, a teenager in Gaza, woke to the deafening sounds of bombs pounding the war-ravaged strip on Tuesday, shattering the fragile peace that had held for weeks.
Initially mistaking it for thunder, the former UAE resident realised quickly that it was the unmistakable sound of airstrikes. This marked the first time in two months that Yusuf felt truly unsafe, with the looming threat of a missile falling close by.
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On the morning of March 18, which coincided with the 18th day of Ramadan, Palestinians living in the UAE watched in horror as the truce in Gaza collapsed. Israel launched full-scale attacks on the enclave, killing at least 404 people and injuring 562, with many still trapped beneath the rubble, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
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Yusuf said that as soon as news broke out of the truce collapsing, he attempted to call his relatives living near the areas hit by the airstrikes. “It didn’t ring [and I have] no idea if they’re doing well or not,” he told Khaleej Times in a message sent via social media.
While the Israeli military said on X that it was conducting extensive strikes on “terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation”, the Palestinian health ministry reported that many of those killed were civilians, including children.
Meanwhile, Palestinian expats in the UAE were left anxiously glued to their phones, desperately hoping for news of their loved ones in Gaza.
Silence between the screams
For Anwar Awni, a 40-year-old entrepreneur who moved from Gaza to the UAE in 2012, this attack was sadly unsurprising. “This has been happening for the past 70 years,” she said. “Truces and agreements are just mere attempts to reduce the suffering. There was no (real) ceasefire — only a brief silence between the screams. The bombs never slept, the hunger never ceased, the graves never stayed empty.”
Anwar said that although she managed to evacuate her aunt, her brother and her brother's children safely from Gaza, some of her other cousins are still there. She shared that she lost both her parents due to of the dire conditions in Gaza, which has suffered from chronic shortages of food, electricity, and medical supplies.
“Having such attacks happen during Ramadan only adds another layer of suffering. This is a time meant for reflection, prayer, and gathering with family. But instead, many Palestinians are mourning loved ones, living in the streets, struggling to find food for iftar and suhoor, and enduring unimaginable hardship as electricity and water are cut off,” said Awni.
No break from suffering
Hiba, a 34-year-old media professional, echoed the feelings of shock and hopelessness felt by many. The news of the renewed attacks hit her hard, calling it "devastating".
“It was bad enough even after the ceasefire, living in limbo, cold and hungry. Now they are back to constant fear," she said.
Hiba admitted to not contacting her relatives in Gaza yet because she said she is overcome by hopelessness, as well as the fact that Internet connection falters during escalations.
“No words can express (the pain they must be feeling). I cannot imagine how hard it must be for them every hour even though it isn't the first Ramadan during war for Gazans," Hiba said.
“I can only pray for their safety and hope they live in the conditions they deserve very soon,” Hiba added.
However, despite everything, Anwar reflected on the resilience of Gaza. “No ceasefire, no food, no water, and no evacuations, yet Gaza endures."
“Amid the rubble, the grief, the void of humanity — Gaza resists. Because even as the world betrays them, even as their homes turn to dust, the Palestinian people refuse to disappear," she added.
Hind Aldah is a business reporter based in Sharjah. In her spare time, you will find her playing classical guitar, painting amateur oil paintings, or crocheting the same old scarf that leads nowhere.