A Palestinian family divided by conflict and geography has experienced a rare reunification following nearly two years of legal proceedings. Mais al-Gharam, a 23-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel living in Nazareth, successfully secured Israeli passports and residency arrangements for six of her surviving siblings, who were born and raised in Gaza.
The family’s separation traces to the Second Intifada era, when restricted Palestinian work permits prompted Mais’s father, Murad al-Gharam, and mother, Amal Karim—a Palestinian citizen of Israel—to relocate permanently to Gaza with their infant daughter Mais. The couple subsequently had seven additional children in the Gaza Strip. The family remained intact until the conflict escalated following the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military response.
When violence intensified, the family faced a critical decision. Israeli law generally prohibits Palestinian spouses of Israeli citizens from obtaining permanent residency, meaning the father could not legally leave. The siblings—who held the right to Israeli citizenship through their mother—initially chose to remain with their parents. The family was displaced multiple times throughout 2024 and eventually returned to their original neighborhood in Nuseirat. On July 10, 2024, an airstrike struck their home, killing the parents and one sibling, Maisara. The surviving siblings suffered injuries and were forced to become self-sufficient.
Mais immediately initiated contact with HaMoked, an Israeli rights organization, to pursue reunification. The process required multiple steps: securing entry permits, obtaining a court order establishing guardianship for minor children, and completing six citizenship applications. Initial requests were rejected, but after the family underwent DNA testing at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, the applications were eventually approved. The siblings arrived in Israel on July 8, concluding a journey from Gaza’s conflict-affected areas through Israeli territory to Nazareth, where their mother’s extended family welcomed them with celebrations and meals. The siblings expressed their primary concern as having successfully reunited with family members.
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