‘I want to join my kids’ – Irish-Palestinian man stuck in Rafah fears he will never see his family again

Irish citizens from Palestine Batoul Hania and her four sons Nourmohammed, 11, (front left), Ahmed, 14, (front right), Mazen, 19, (back left) and Ismael, 17, (back right) at their accommodation in West Dublin. Batoul's husband Zak was not permitted to cross the border from Gaza into Egypt with his family, despite being an Irish citizen. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Cate McCurry

An Irish-Palestinian man who was blocked from leaving the Gaza Strip has described his fear of never seeing his family again and how life in Rafah has become "critical".

Zak Hania said he feels "abandoned" by the Irish authorities after appeals for help to leave Gaza went unanswered.