Palestinians with Ukraine ties empathize with victims of war

Gaza's al-Astal family is watching the war in Ukraine with special interest

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- The al-Astal family in the Gaza Strip is once again confronting the horrors of war — air raids, food shortages, power cuts, frantic phone calls. But this time, they are on the outside looking in.

They are among dozens of Palestinian-Ukrainian families in the isolated territory who have experienced several wars firsthand — the most recent last May — and are now watching another unfold in Ukraine, where many of them have loved ones.

Oksana al-Astal has barely slept since the fighting began. Her parents, in their 80s, live in a small Ukrainian village where food and medicine are already running low. As soon as she gets home every day from working in her clinic, the gynecologist calls to see if they are still alive.

“There are constant air raids, so my parents have to hide in basements that are wet and cold,” she said. “The lights cut out, there’s no heating or electricity. It’s terrifying.”