Video of the emotional reunion of twin brothers in Gaza after Israel allowed movement within the enclave as part of a ceasefire deal was widely viewed around the world and provided a visceral image of Palestinian survival after 15 grueling months of death, separation, and destruction.

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The United States has joined Israel in striking nuclear targets in Iran. It follows an escalating broader conflict in the region including the ongoing Gaza war.

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The reunion of twins Ibrahim and Mahmoud al-Atout in Gaza has captured global attention following a ceasefire that temporarily allowed movement within the area. The emotional embrace has become a powerful image symbolizing Palestinian resilience after 15 months of conflict-related separation, loss, and destruction. Both brothers, 30, from Jabalia in northern Gaza, faced significant hardships during the ongoing conflict. They were separated early in the hostilities that began in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, resulting in thousands of casualties on both sides.

Ibrahim al-Atout, who is also a member of parliament, faced personal tragedy when his home was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike, resulting in the death of one of his daughters and injuries to another. With medical facilities increasingly unsafe in the north due to approaching Israeli forces, he and his family were relocated by the Red Crescent to a hospital in the south of Gaza. This displacement, along with a lack of basic necessities, posed significant challenges for Ibrahim and his family, impacting their wellbeing. Meanwhile, Mahmoud remained in the north, with limited means to communicate with his brother or ensure his safety.

When the opportunity arose to return to Jabalia, Ibrahim contacted Mahmoud. The subsequent reunion occurred amid crowds of thousands traveling back north. Mahmoud waited for six hours in anticipation of spotting his brother in the throng of people. Despite the challenges of traveling with his six daughters, Ibrahim successfully rejoined Mahmoud, culminating in an emotional reunion. Now reunited, the twins and their families are navigating the devastation of their family home together.



The story behind the twins who reunited amid crowds in Gaza

It was a reunion 15 months in the making. Video of the emotional embrace by Gaza twins Ibrahim and Mahmoud al-Atout has been seen around the world, becoming a visceral image of Palestinian survival amid a grueling war and destruction. IBRAHIM AL-ATOUT, Gaza Twins Member of Parliament, said, He called out to me, Mahmoud, and I couldn't comprehend. I ran quickly, and we hugged each other. Where were you, Ibrahim? Where my brother? To the point, I didn't want to let go of him. It's like the soul returned to the chest. The soul returned to the heart. I couldn't believe I found my brother. I couldn't believe it. But the brothers had both endured loss and hardship that tinged the joy of the reunion. They spoke about their experience days later, in a video obtained by Reuters. The two 30-year-old men from the Jabalia area of northern Gaza were split up early in the conflict. Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and seizing about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. The Israeli military campaign in Gaza killed more than 47,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, leveling much of the enclave. Ibrahim said his house was hit by an Israeli airstrike in November 2023, killing one of his daughters and injuring another. The following months would be spent between hospitals. Ibrahim said he did not want to go south, but Israeli forces had moved towards north Gaza's Indonesian hospital, while he was there with his family. The Red Crescent moved them all to a bigger hospital in the south, where better treatment was available. Mahmoud stayed in the north. Ibrahim said he went through periods without communication with his brother, not knowing where he was or if anything had happened. We stayed there, strewn in the cold. There were no beddings, no covers. There wasn't a drop of water. We lived a difficult life there. The stress of that time caused Ibrahim to lose weight, he said. When news came late one night that he could go north to Jabalia, Ibrahim phoned Mahmoud. Mahmoud described the phone call as a dream. He said he quickly got dressed and rushed to the meeting point on a main road into northern Gaza. As tens of thousands of Palestinians made their way home to the north, Mahmoud said he stood for six hours, looking for his twin in the sea of people. The journey was long for Ibrahim. Travelling with his six young daughters meant he had to go slowly, and then the ecstatic and tearful embrace. Now reunited, the two men and their families are going through the ruins of their family home, together.

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