A 73-year-old displaced Palestinian, originally from Gaza, expressed his hopes of returning home following the ceasefire-hostage release deal that took effect on Sunday. Hassan Matar has been stranded in Cairo since September 2023, before the outbreak of the war in Gaza initiated by attacks from Hamas on 7 October.
Speaking about his anticipation to return to Gaza, Hassan mentioned that he had been awake since the previous day, unable to sleep due to excitement. He emphasized his desire to reunite with his family and loved ones as soon as he is permitted to return home.
Expressing his deep longing for his homeland, Hassan conveyed his happiness at the prospect of finally being able to go back. Despite being in Egypt, he has diligently kept up with the news and maintained contact with his family members still residing in Gaza. He described the period of separation from his country as extremely challenging, stating, 'These were days harder than hard.'
