Israel-Hamas war: Indian woman evacuated from Gaza anticipates homeward journey to Kashmir

Pic/Twitter, @indembcairo

Lubna Nazir Shaboo, an Indian woman hailing from Jammu & Kashmir and residing in the conflict-stricken Gaza Strip, has successfully been evacuated with the assistance of Indian diplomatic missions in the region. Now in Cairo, she looks forward to her return journey to Kashmir.

Lubna, accompanied by her daughter Karima, crossed the Rafah border on Monday evening, reaching the Egyptian capital the following day. Speaking to news wire PTI from Cairo, she expressed her gratitude for the evacuation and stated, "I safely crossed over from Gaza at the Rafah border and am now awaiting my return to Kashmir."

The details of her return journey are currently being finalized. Lubna extended heartfelt thanks to the Indian diplomatic missions in Ramallah, Tel Aviv, and Cairo for facilitating the evacuation from the conflict zone. She had reached out to PTI on October 10, seeking help shortly after the outbreak of the Hamas-Israel conflict on October 7.

Lubna's one son and one daughter have been studying in Cairo. Upon her arrival in Cairo, the Indian Embassy tweeted a photo featuring Indian ambassador to Egypt Ajit Gupte with Lubna and her daughter, stating, "Amb @AjitVGupte received Mrs. Lubna Nazir Shaboo, an Indian national who has just arrived safely in Cairo, after being evacuated from Gaza. She and her family are in good health."

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Lubna, in a video shared with PTI, described the dire conditions in Gaza, emphasizing the lack of water, electricity, internet, and telecommunications. She expressed concern about the escalating situation, the scarcity of essential supplies, and the impact on medical care and services in the region.

Highlighting the deteriorating conditions in Gaza, Lubna stated, "There is hope that this thing will stop at once, and I pray for peace in this place."

The Gaza Strip has been pounded by Israel in retaliation to the October 7 Hamas attack. Lubna's evacuation is part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of individuals affected by the conflict. Over 11,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip since the onset of Israel's retaliatory attacks. (With inputs from PTI)