Gaza Grad: A Palestinian-Russian family’s longing for home

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports on a Palestinian-Russian family displaced by the war in Gaza and split between Russia and Egypt as they try to rebuild their lives while holding onto the hope of returning home. The family includes Anna and Ghassan Ashour and their daughters, Lisa and Donia. According to the report, they remained in Gaza for as long as they could after fighting intensified in October 2023, even though they had a possible route out, because they considered Gaza their home.

As conditions worsened, the family eventually left the Strip and went to Russia in search of safety. The report says the move was especially difficult for Lisa and Donia, who faced language and cultural barriers and struggled with distance from Gaza. Over time, the daughters moved to Egypt, which placed them closer to the region and to the possibility of returning home.

The story presents the family’s experience as part of the wider disruption caused by the Gaza war and the difficult choices displaced people face between safety and home. It also highlights how family life is being reshaped across borders, with some members in Russia and others in Egypt, while their emotional and practical connection to Gaza remains central to their lives.