![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KOKHCSFJF5GTXPP3Y2CLCCZ4BE.jpg?smart=true&auth=3467876dedb897db05d3176f38852c7a5d3d0ebf6cb6636baa1fad5e97b31d14&width=400&height=225)
Raed Al Qushta and Ahmed Al Dalou meet their children after school to return to the Istanbul hotel they now call home
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Mamdouh Al Burnu in hotel accommodation provided by the Turkish government in Istanbul, after being evacuated from Gaza. All photos David Lombeida for The National
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Fellow evacuee Zekiye Al Dalou reflects on her experience in Gaza
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She was among a group of Turkish citizens recently brought home from the besieged Palestinian enclave
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Evacuee Raed Al Qushta recounts his experience in Gaza. Ankara evacuated 130 Turkish citizens from Gaza in December
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Hassan Al Hwaity, left, and his brother Hamed Al Hwaity describe living in Gaza under Israeli attack. More than 20,000 people have been killed in the enclave
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Hosniya Al Burnu, 74, with her son Mamdouh Al Burnu, in an Istanbul hotel after leaving Gaza
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Evacuee Ahmed Al Dalou in an Istanbul hotel. According to the UN, 1.9 million of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been displaced by the war
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Mamdouh Al Burnu's son reflects on his time in Gaza
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Evacuee brothers Jamal, right, and Youssef Al Dalou grab after-school snacks in Istanbul
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Youssef and Jamal Al Dalou enjoy snacks with classmates at their new school in Istanbul
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Hassan Al Hwaity with his and his brother’s children in the Istanbul hotel where they are staying
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KOKHCSFJF5GTXPP3Y2CLCCZ4BE.jpg?smart=true&auth=3467876dedb897db05d3176f38852c7a5d3d0ebf6cb6636baa1fad5e97b31d14&width=400&height=225)
Raed Al Qushta and Ahmed Al Dalou meet their children after school to return to the Istanbul hotel they now call home
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H5TRL3BOMBHRRE54AJYAYLZLEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d15bb839a5577c53c9c7745d2b363778095bee20a18735f94c812227a82703f&width=400&height=225)
Mamdouh Al Burnu in hotel accommodation provided by the Turkish government in Istanbul, after being evacuated from Gaza. All photos David Lombeida for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/47IWI72WEBFVDNIOC6SH6T5GEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=624e5b36fe841946a761861016a8b5026d17909a93a16f4a1d6476484f302ff3&width=400&height=225)
Fellow evacuee Zekiye Al Dalou reflects on her experience in Gaza
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/35YVT2CUVREWPESZTI3YO5TRZ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=49d5d2a616cecc85c56eb58a31a3d55848ae19d2e8a4dc7e2b88f1a708b68bcd&width=400&height=225)
She was among a group of Turkish citizens recently brought home from the besieged Palestinian enclave
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UXOWRVEVCFDOBDBHZHZKCZ3YNU.jpg?smart=true&auth=fe6ed427f6d70d3bbd9563e53f3c3a4cada9e4b98ce66be50e6e35a253648a72&width=400&height=225)
Evacuee Raed Al Qushta recounts his experience in Gaza. Ankara evacuated 130 Turkish citizens from Gaza in December
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SDVBAASUCZGJXJ42WBMY7EARUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a94fbcc1f9df085fc9585cd8372b3fadd2fbbe6a8b4298b2c872a97e8ad323a4&width=400&height=225)
Hassan Al Hwaity, left, and his brother Hamed Al Hwaity describe living in Gaza under Israeli attack. More than 20,000 people have been killed in the enclave
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FYQNBUU4SJGITHQCMBZRQ77OKA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6c19e134099e5d1ecec4ca643fa7c61b6ac266fa1823dc223b490739611d27e9&width=400&height=225)
Hosniya Al Burnu, 74, with her son Mamdouh Al Burnu, in an Istanbul hotel after leaving Gaza
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WZQ6HWWGAVD4NM763DWTPE6PL4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f5bbcf434d1573c4c9218d2ddcdbc50bd954d7f50748158d009741ddfda01210&width=400&height=225)
Evacuee Ahmed Al Dalou in an Istanbul hotel. According to the UN, 1.9 million of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been displaced by the war
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KXBB5JXKLBFUPFCXAJJO5DQBRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c52a7e3acf5e1e97412daf2e27a4952e67dd0725847c0b9a40b9684e18022668&width=400&height=225)
Mamdouh Al Burnu's son reflects on his time in Gaza
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z74625LRHZHUDOFXZIUFRLRFY4.jpg?smart=true&auth=adfdf57114ee174477c628be1cd95435650778384ae8ebbefc30c84707fc24d4&width=400&height=225)
Evacuee brothers Jamal, right, and Youssef Al Dalou grab after-school snacks in Istanbul
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RLKBRUBGJJGE3G5TCFWBTNHAYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=134c317e40eb5178f51a9cb4a45811bcf82a8865f05fc74e4cf5bc33754c44a6&width=400&height=225)
Youssef and Jamal Al Dalou enjoy snacks with classmates at their new school in Istanbul
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XUDKIV2O4ZCYDMHPBYWVSWJ45Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=e09c31ff7df8795c5e74ae73ade6fcb3654aae07f19ed95b163faf8e93c45dd3&width=400&height=225)
Hassan Al Hwaity with his and his brother’s children in the Istanbul hotel where they are staying
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Raed Al Qushta and Ahmed Al Dalou meet their children after school to return to the Istanbul hotel they now call home
Turks who fled Gaza recount trauma of Israel's war
'This luck is not a good thing,' say those who managed to escape but left their lives behind
Lizzie Porter
Istanbul
25 December, 2023
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