A British woman who recently fled Lebanon amid escalating fighting between Israel and Hezbollah expressed her feelings of “terrible and guilty” for leaving. Alaa Ghalayini, 28, spoke to the BBC about her emotional turmoil after departing her home.
“I’m still in denial,” Ghalayini shared. “I can’t sleep. I still hear the bombs in my head.”
Ghalayini is nearly two months pregnant with her first child. She arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport on a Middle East Airlines flight early Sunday, visibly exhausted and carrying two large suitcases. She left her husband behind in Lebanon, along with the life she cherished.
Conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensified after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia based in Lebanon, has vowed to continue fighting until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza. Recently, Israel has targeted areas it claims are Hezbollah strongholds, including the capital, Beirut.
On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut resulted in the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and 20 other senior members of the group.
Ghalayini moved to Beirut from North London after marrying in August 2022. She expressed uncertainty about when she would see her husband again or if she could return to Lebanon before her baby is born. The only available flight from Beirut was with Middle East Airlines, which she was able to book because her husband is a pilot for the airline.
“I feel terrible and guilty that I have been able to leave,” she said. “I didn’t want to leave my husband. My heart is with him.”
Describing her departure from Beirut Airport, Ghalayini noted that it was “chaotic” and overcrowded, with no empty seats on her flight. “Everyone on the plane had a story. It was obviously emotional,” she recalled. Passengers felt a sense of relief once they left Lebanese airspace due to the bombings occurring nearby.
Before her departure, Ghalayini described the situation in Lebanon as “unbearable.” She recalled hiding in her bathroom, witnessing the city burning from her apartment on the 23rd floor. “You feel helpless. No one should have to go through what we’ve gone through.”
Another British national, Nadine, also shared her harrowing experience. Overcome with emotion, she told the BBC, “We couldn’t sleep; we were so worried about our families and friends and couldn’t even find flights for them.”
Nadine traveled from London to Heathrow to meet her two teenage daughters, Lea, 17, and Yasmina, 15, who had arrived from Beirut. The girls, UK nationals, had been living in Beirut with their grandparents. The family chose to evacuate the girls as Israeli airstrikes intensified, leaving most of their belongings and friends behind.
Lea expressed her feelings of uncertainty, stating, “It’s really scary and sad not knowing when you’re going to come back to your home country, not knowing what’s going to happen to your family and friends there.” She added that she hoped to feel better and forget about the trauma.
While Nadine felt relieved that her daughters arrived safely, she remained concerned for those still in Lebanon. “My sister, their kids are traumatized. They’re seeing the bombs from their balconies, from the streets,” she said. The family indicated that the girls’ grandparents plan to leave Beirut for safety soon.
According to BBC News, there are between 4,000 and 6,000 UK nationals, including dependents, currently in Lebanon. The Foreign Office advised UK nationals in Lebanon to leave immediately due to the escalating violence. “We encourage you to book the next available flight, even if it is not a direct route,” it stated.
The Foreign Office is working to increase capacity and secure seats for British nationals wishing to leave Lebanon. UK nationals are also encouraged to register their presence to receive the latest updates.
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