Calgary man fears for safety of family trapped in Gaza

After moving from Gaza City, Palestine, Tamer Jarada has been enjoying life in Calgary for the last 15 years.

But, his dream became a nightmare when the war in the Middle East was declared on Oct. 7.

On Monday, Jarada was finally able to speak on the phone with his dad, who is in the Gaza Strip, currently without any electricity or clean drinking water, as he charged his cellphone using a car battery.

His father described the atrocious conditions he and other Gaza City residents are living in and spoke about how, after going without food for a day, he finally managed to find some bread.

When the two hung up, Jarada said he left the conversation knowing it could very well be the last time they speak.

He said conversations like this have become a heartbreaking norm for him and other Calgarians who have family members in the Middle East.

“It’s heart-wrenching. My sisters, my parents, all my extended family including my uncles and their families are there,” Jarada said. “My close family narrowly escaped death when the residence was damaged.

“About 25 people now are staying in my three-bedroom apartment in Gaza City.”

While his family has found shelter in his apartment, many of his in-laws are now considered dead, as 20 of the 30 members of his sister-in-law’s family members have been buried in the rubble of a bombed building.

Jarada said he now spends his days wondering whether or not his family members are still alive, and these fleeting conversations are all he has to stay in the know.

“I seriously can’t take it anymore,” he said. “I can’t say goodbye at the end of every call I make with my family because I don’t know if I can get the chance to talk to them again. It’s so stressful.”

He noted these concerns were only heightened after the deadly attack on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza, which he had just visited two months ago when he was visiting his sick sister.

Previously, Gaza City residents were told to evacuate and head south, but that was impossible for many of his family members due to road conditions and geography, so now, they remain trapped in the war-torn city.

As the war gets deadlier by the day, Jarada knows every conversation with his family members could very well be their last.

“I’m hurt,” Jarada said. “I’m just in so much pain. I wanted badly to talk to my family yesterday, but I can’t do anything.

“My government isn’t doing anything to stop the bloodshed that’s happening in the Gaza Strip.”

Jarada says this overwhelming sense of hopelessness is the reality for many Calgarians with family in the Middle East.

Now, he just wants people to know that people in Gaza are human beings, who are struggling to survive, many of whom condemn Hamas’ actions.