From joyous reunion to Gaza nightmare: Nurul Ain's harrowing experience

WHEN Israel launched an attack on Gaza on Oct 7, Nurul Ain Haron, a 37-year-old Malaysian citizen, found herself in a harrowing situation she hadn't anticipated.

Stuck in Palestine, she joined her husband, 33-year-old Mohamed A Shaat, in his birthplace, and what was supposed to be a joyous meeting with her in-laws turned into a nightmare amidst the renewed conflict.

Arriving in Palestine on Oct 1, Nurul Ain initially enjoyed the beauty of Gaza and relished the warm welcome from her husband's family.

"Alhamdulillah, during that period, my husband and I had time to go out together and enjoy a lunch date.

"Not only that, but I also had time to go out with my sister-in-law to eat ice cream," she said.

However, the joy was short-lived as Gaza faced another round of attacks.

Nurul Ain described the sudden shift, saying, "Our night became quiet, dark and scary because of the lack of electricity and water."

She shared these experiences during the 'The Untold Story of Gaza' episode on the Sinar Live programme hosted by Haizir Othman on Sunday.

Nurul Ain and her husband safely arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Nov 14 after being stranded for over 42 days.

Reflecting on the situation in Gaza before Oct 7, Nurul Ain admitted that she never anticipated dealing with such a nerve-wracking scenario.

She expressed disbelief at the transformation of Gaza, which, initially, appeared luxurious but turned into a deadly area almost instantly.

"My father-in-law confirms that this war is one of the worst in history," she added.

Nurul Ain, working as a dental assistant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), also highlighted the resilience of the people in Gaza in the face of bomb attacks.

She recounted a conversation with her father-in-law, who affirmed his commitment to stay in Gaza and defend the land alongside other Palestinians, even if presented with an opportunity to leave.

"I once asked Baba if he had a great opportunity to leave the land of Gaza, would he be willing to leave?

"However, Baba told me that he will not leave Gaza. He (baba) will be together with other Palestinians to defend this land (Gaza)," she said.