Captain Saleh Asaliya, a former footballer and coach, clings to hope for the war in Gaza to end and the Rafah crossing to reopen so he can reunite with his wife and children, who left over a year ago.

"My wife, a Jordanian resident, and my children managed to leave Gaza through Rafah in November 2023," Asaliya shared with Palestine Online. "My name wasn’t on the list of travellers. I stayed behind in Rafah, displaced from Jabalia, and later moved to Deir al-Balah to live with my sister, whose husband and children were martyred. Now, I’m in one place, and my family is in another."

Separated from his loved ones, Asaliya grieves the loss of his father, whom he could neither bid farewell nor see due to the siege. "This situation – being unable to join your family – doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world," he said, his voice heavy with pain.

Asaliya expressed how much he longs to embrace his family again, even as they fear for his safety amid the relentless bombardments. "We live for the moment when we hear the good news of the war ending," he said.

With added responsibilities, including caring for his sister’s family, Asaliya faces mounting challenges as prices soar, exacerbating the burdens of war. "This conflict has drained us and deepened our suffering. We hope it will end soon, bringing peace to all," he concluded.