Norwegians Ayla (3) and Asya (2) finally got their dad home from Gaza – NRK Vestland

A long battle to get out of Gaza and until the family in Norway is over.

On Thursday evening, Jaber Yaghi landed at Bergen airport Flesland. His wife Vanessa and daughters were waiting there.

– It is indescribable. It means a lot, especially for the children, that he is now here with us, says Vanessa Yaghi.

Lived in uncertainty for half a year

Since the war in Gaza started, the 28-year-old has fought to get her husband out and to Norway. She has feared for his life, and earlier this year it almost went crazy.

At the end of February, Yaghi was wounded in an Israeli attack in the city of Deir al-Bala.

– I am relieved and happy to be together with my family in Norway, says Jaber Yaghi after landing in Flesland.

The wife traveled with her daughters from Gaza in April last year, because she thought it had become unsafe to live there.

They haven’t seen each other since. Before Thursday night.

Long and expensive journey

Vanessa Yaghi and her daughters are Norwegian citizens. They live in Stord, where she moved as a 13-year-old when her parents got a job there.

Nevertheless, the immigration authorities for a long time said no to family reunification with Jaber. They pointed out that the marriage was not formally approved and that Vanessa spent too little money.

Several professionals and politicians NRK has spoken to thought that greater emphasis should be placed on the fact that he has small children in Norway.

The state administrator later approved the marriage. And in March, the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) granted the application for family reunification, and granted an interim residence permit.

The road out of Gaza has been difficult and expensive. According to Yaghi, he paid around NOK 55,000 to an Egyptian agency to get out of Rafah in Gaza to Egypt.

The border in Rafah was closed a few days later

After Jaber Yaghi came out, Israeli forces have intensified the attack on the border town of Rafah, where more than a million people have sought refuge.

Living conditions are appalling in the city, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

According to Palestinian border authorities, the border crossing at Rafah is closed to humanitarian aid and supplies. At the same time, negotiations on a ceasefire have broken down.

– It would have been difficult to get out if the border was closed. I think I would have died if I hadn’t come to my family now, says Jaber Yaghi.

The family traveled on from Bergen to the apartment in Stord.

– Now I’m going to take a weekend and relax, laughs Vanessa Yaghi, with tears of joy in her eyes.

UD: – The unrest for those who are still in Gaza

Around 20 people with connections to Norway are still in Gaza, according to what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) knows.

This applies to Norwegian citizens, foreign citizens residing in Norway, and close family members with valid residence in Norway who travel together with them.

– Me is very unsettling for those who are still in Gaza. So far I have assisted around 300 people in these categories. This demanding work is still ongoing, according to spokesperson Ane Haavardsdatter Lunde in the Foreign Ministry.

Jaber Yaghi fell outside the categories, and has not received assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get out.