Hannah Jaffe-Walt (Host)

Yusuf sends a picture of himself on a bike in London. Asil, wow, smiley face, it's amazing. And an athlete, smiley face, heart. Another time. A selfie of Yusuf in Cairo. Asil, advice for you, smiley face, heart. This haircut looks good on you. Asil had pushed Yusuf to leave Gaza. She considered going with him, but the cost was enormous, more than Yusuf could cover.

Yusuf sends a picture of himself on a bike in London. Asil, wow, smiley face, it's amazing. And an athlete, smiley face, heart. Another time. A selfie of Yusuf in Cairo. Asil, advice for you, smiley face, heart. This haircut looks good on you. Asil had pushed Yusuf to leave Gaza. She considered going with him, but the cost was enormous, more than Yusuf could cover.

And she didn't want to leave her in-laws and extended family behind in Gaza. She's genuinely very happy for Yusuf. But there's also a new, unfamiliar feeling.

And she didn't want to leave her in-laws and extended family behind in Gaza. She's genuinely very happy for Yusuf. But there's also a new, unfamiliar feeling.

And she didn't want to leave her in-laws and extended family behind in Gaza. She's genuinely very happy for Yusuf. But there's also a new, unfamiliar feeling.

Yousef knows it without her saying it, because he feels it too.

Yousef knows it without her saying it, because he feels it too.

Yousef knows it without her saying it, because he feels it too.

How often are you thinking about that, Youssef?

How often are you thinking about that, Youssef?

How often are you thinking about that, Youssef?

Every time you talk to them?

Every time you talk to them?

Every time you talk to them?

One of the reasons Asil didn't leave Gaza with Youssef is she thought the war would end soon. Another reason, she wanted to go home to the north where her house is in Jabalia. She wanted to raise her daughter at home. She thought about it every day. She was waiting and waiting for the Israeli military to allow residents of the north to return.

One of the reasons Asil didn't leave Gaza with Youssef is she thought the war would end soon. Another reason, she wanted to go home to the north where her house is in Jabalia. She wanted to raise her daughter at home. She thought about it every day. She was waiting and waiting for the Israeli military to allow residents of the north to return.

One of the reasons Asil didn't leave Gaza with Youssef is she thought the war would end soon. Another reason, she wanted to go home to the north where her house is in Jabalia. She wanted to raise her daughter at home. She thought about it every day. She was waiting and waiting for the Israeli military to allow residents of the north to return.

These months and months of text messages really conveyed just how long she was stuck. You can see Asil getting ground down over time. There's no electricity, no clean water. She keeps getting sick. There's bombings and drones and just uncertainty. Endless uncertainty. September 2024. Asil. Oh, by God, we are tired. I wish I had listened to you and gone with you. October. Asil.

These months and months of text messages really conveyed just how long she was stuck. You can see Asil getting ground down over time. There's no electricity, no clean water. She keeps getting sick. There's bombings and drones and just uncertainty. Endless uncertainty. September 2024. Asil. Oh, by God, we are tired. I wish I had listened to you and gone with you. October. Asil.

These months and months of text messages really conveyed just how long she was stuck. You can see Asil getting ground down over time. There's no electricity, no clean water. She keeps getting sick. There's bombings and drones and just uncertainty. Endless uncertainty. September 2024. Asil. Oh, by God, we are tired. I wish I had listened to you and gone with you. October. Asil.