Irish passport-holder Ibrahim Al-Agha hosts 90 displaced people at his Gaza home

Palestinian engineer Ibrahim Al-Agha, a dual-national who has an Irish passport, was only visiting family in Gaza for a holiday when the fighting started.

But in the 18 days that have elapsed since then he has opened his doors to more than 90 Palestinians, all desperately seeking sanctuary. All hoping that being under the roof of a man with an international passport, will offer them security when Israel’s land forces arrive.

For almost three weeks, Al-Agha together with his wife and three children, have faced the challenge of hosting so many people.

Ibrahim Al-Agha with his wife and three children. The Irish nationals have been trapped by the fighting. October 2023
Ibrahim Al-Agha with his wife and three children. The Irish nationals have been trapped by the fighting. October 2023 - Euronews

"We have a big problem, maybe you saw our struggle with food, water, electricity, trying to entertain the kids as well. So, it's a daily struggle from the morning until we go to sleep. It's a daily struggle just to source our needs as a group."

Hammam Al-Afrangi hopes the home of an international citizen will be safer when Israeli soldiers arrive. October 2023
Hammam Al-Afrangi hopes the home of an international citizen will be safer when Israeli soldiers arrive. October 2023 - Euronews

Hammam Al-Afrangi fled the Tal Al-Hawa neighbourhood in Gaza and didn’t even know the Al-Agha’s before arriving at the house. He said: “The first two days were very difficult for us, as we did not know each other, and everyone was afraid and nervous, and we did not know in the first place how we would live together. But after that, we began to learn how to live together, and because the owner of the house was helping us, reassuring us inside his house, and feeding us.”