Some wounds know no borders. France 24's Tarek Kai met with Palestinians living in California. Many still have relatives in the enclave and follow the news of the war day by day.

Anaheim

Palestinians residing in Anaheim, California, remain closely connected to events in Gaza, where many still have family members enduring difficult conditions. Ahmed, a neurosurgeon who recently arrived from Gaza, shared that his family has been displaced multiple times and is suffering from severe food shortages. 

Other community members, including Yasmin, who has lived in the United States for over two decades, also described feelings of guilt and sorrow as they watch news of the conflict and humanitarian crisis in their homeland. The local Arab community continues to follow developments in the Middle East, highlighting the enduring impact of the conflict on those far from home.

Speaking with Palestinians living in California

Everything in this Los Angeles suburb supermarket reminds Ahmed of Gaza, from Palestinian songs and flags to imported Middle Eastern products. This neurosurgeon who worked at the European hospital in Gaza arrived in the United States a year ago. He lived through long months of war where his family still remains. When I was leaving Gaza, I felt as if my soul was staying there with my father, my mother and my brothers in Khan Younis, especially since they're living in extremely difficult conditions and tents. Just in the past month alone, they've been forced to move three times. My father has lost 20 kilos. My mother has lost 25 and my brother more than 20. They are starving. They are really starving. There is a real famine there. Gaza is on everyone's mind in this little Arabian neighbourhood where the Arab community mingles, a neighbourhood where Middle Eastern current events continue to dominate discussions. We've been living here for more than 45, 50 years, but we always have our hearts and our thoughts that have remained in our countries. We need to stay connected to the cause that matters most to us. I can't hold back my tears when I wake up to pray and I learn from the news that children and adults have been killed, that there's no food or water. If Trump really wanted to bring peace, he would start in his own country. It's nothing but words. Yasmin has lived in the United States for more than 20 years. She's originally from Gaza, but hasn't been back in 12 years. Despite being busy with creating her perfumes and opening her own shop in Anaheim, she has difficulty detaching herself from news of her homeland. Her sister and much of her family still live in the enclave. We can't say we're living a normal life. Our hearts are with them, but we're consumed by guilt when we have access to all the food we want and they, back home, don't even have bread. The eyes of Anaheim's Arab community remain fixed on developments in the Middle East. The conflict tearing Gaza apart resonates all the way to their doorstep, showing that some wounds know no borders.

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Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

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Damascus

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Mexico City

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

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Jerusalem

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Hollywood

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Moscow

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As Suwayda

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Atlanta

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New Delhi

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New Jersey

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Doha

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New York

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Sicily

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Breakdown