LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Unimageable worry for a Louisville man who has been unable to reach his wife and kids in Gaza for two days.
Saleh El Farrah's wife and four sons went to Gaza to study abroad. But not knowing if they are even dead or alive is not what he imagined when they left.
"I imagine now like they're gone, I'm not going to see them again,"Â El Farrah said.
When El Farrah turns on the news he expects the worst.
Saleh El Farrah and his family. (Submitted photo)
"I look at all these dead bodies, trying to verify which one is my kid,"Â El Farrah said.
His oldest son is 14 and the youngest is 8.
"They've never seen all this stuff, exposed, they all grew up in America with all the freedom all the pleasures, everything,"Â El Farrah said.
El Farrah's family left Louisville for Gaza in 2021 to study abroad, see where their parents grew up, and experience life outside of America.
"To appreciate how they have it here made and see other people in the world,"Â El Farrah said.
The first day war broke out, he was able to get in contact with them. Then, for a couple days it was spotty.
But the last two days he's had no communication with them.
"You can't imagine your kids laying there, that's how I'm feeling,"Â El Farrah said.
El Farrah said he's talked to state leaders including U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell's team. But El Farrah said there's no way for his wife and kids to get out of Gaza.
"For Gaza people they said find your own ways to get out because they cannot leave to go to International Israel International Airport and Egypt, they closed their borders,"Â El Farrah said.
He's left feeling helpless and questioning the meaning behind this war that has killed at least 3,200 people on both sides.
"All of us are human we live life, it's going to end naturally anyway no matter what power you have,"Â El Farrah said.
But while he questions the war, the only answer he hopes for, is that his family is safe.
"I'm trying to bring my kids here as much as I can to be safe with me under my arm and all that stuff,"Â El Farrah said.
Related Stories:
- JFCS offering free grief counseling for anyone to talk about war in Israel
- 'Students for Justice in Palestine' group rallies on UofL campus
- Israeli family stuck in Louisville hopes to return to Israel despite ongoing war
- Israeli family visiting Louisville joins hundreds for gathering at Jewish Community Center
Copyright 2023 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.Â
