Separated by the Gaza war, Shady's quest to see his family again

Shady al-Areer, 38, was smuggled from Israel into the occupied West Bank after October 7, 2023. He yearns to see his family in Gaza.

Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again
Shady Al-Areer remains separated from his family in Gaza [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]
Shady Al-Areer is desperately trying to reunite with his family in Gaza, almost three years after Israel's genocide began [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]
Shady Al-Areer is desperately trying to reunite with his family in Gaza, almost three years after Israel's genocide began [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]
By Shady Al-Areer, Al Jazeera Staff and illustrations by Muhammet Okur
Published On 13 Jun 2026

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Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]Separated by the Gaza war, a Palestinian longs to see his family again [Muhammet Okur/Al Jazeera]