For two young men from Gaza, arriving in Limerick did not just mean starting university, it meant stepping into life again after surviving war, displacement, and the fear of never seeing their families again.
Mohammad Qudaih and Saleh Alnatoor reached Ireland with almost nothing in their hands, yet carrying everything in their hearts: memories, trauma, love, and the determination to rebuild their futures from scratch.
Today, in the quiet green spaces of the University of Limerick, both students are learning how to breathe, study, and dream again—far from the destruction they were forced to leave behind.
A Journey Through War, Loss, and Survival
Mohammad is only 20 years old, but his experiences carry decades of pain. He finished high school in 2023, but war stole two full years of his education.
“When you live in Gaza, you grow up fast,” he said. “The resilience I had is what brought me here to Ireland.”
He left Gaza on September 17, a date he describes as both a blessing and a heartbreak.
“I saw my father cry for the first time.It’s a moment I will never forget. The hardest part is saying goodbye to your family, not knowing if you’ll ever see them again.”
With famine increasing, bombs falling daily, and entire neighbourhoods wiped out, Mohammad boarded the evacuation bus with nothing but a phone, his documents, and guilt.
“I left for my future, but my soul stayed behind.”
The journey through the Karm Abu Salem crossing was terrifying, “I saw tanks in front of us… Everyone on the bus was terrified. That was the last image I saw before leaving. I still live with that fear every day.”
After hours of inspections and fear, he finally crossed-exhausted, hungry, and awake for over 12 hours. Ireland was not just a destination; it was the first safe space he had experienced in years.
“I Never Expected to Survive”: A Journalist Escapes Death
For Saleh, the path was just as heavy.After nearly 20 years of journalism, including coverage of five wars since 2018, he never thought he would leave Gaza alive.
“I never expected to survive,” he said. “More than 250 journalists were killed. Every day I thought it might be my last.”
Salem worked under unimaginable conditions, filming while bombs fell meters away. He reported with no food for days, sleeping in hospitals and tents. Here, he drank contaminated water,trying to stay alive long enough to send his footage to the world.
When the Irish embassy staff approached him at Karm Abu Salem with smiles and handshakes, something shifted inside him.
“For the first time, I felt seen as a human being. I realised they were going to save me.”
Ireland evacuated dozens of Gaza students in recent months, including Saleh, who arrived carrying trauma but also deep gratitude, “When I reached Ireland, everything felt new, the rain, the trees, the small houses, the kindness of people. I felt like I was discovering life for the first time.”
Today, he lives with an Irish host family, “They treat me like their own son. I never once felt like a stranger.”
He hopes to complete his Master’s in Journalism and rebuild his career, this time in a safer environment.
Life in Limerick: Learning to Belong Again
Despite the relief, life in Ireland came with new challenges for both students. For Mohammad, loneliness and language were the most challenging aspects.
“I miss my family every day, my mother’s smile, my father’s advice. Being far from them is the hardest thing.”
But he is determined to adjust, “I’m not just here to study. I’m here to represent my country, the one that was shattered.”
He chose engineering because it has been his dream since he was 12 years old, “I want to help rebuild Gaza. After all the destruction, we need people who can stand up again.”
Studying in Ireland is challenging after years without formal school, but the support from UL helped him regain confidence, “The university embraced me, I never felt alone.”
For Saleh, adapting to a peaceful life was emotional, “I used to wake up every day to the sound of explosions, suddenly, here everything is quiet, safe, and calm.”
He spends time learning Irish culture, exploring new cities, and trying to heal after years of trauma. “I’m learning how to live without fear, how to exist without the sound of bombs.”
Between Two Worlds
Both students say the biggest challenge is carrying two worlds at the same time:
The world they escaped was full of destruction, loss, and fear.
And the world they are trying to build is full of education, peace, and new beginnings.
They check their phones constantly for updates from home, terrified that something might happen to their families. But they also walk across UL’s bridge, sit in peaceful classrooms, and remind themselves that surviving was not a betrayal, it was the beginning of responsibility.
Dreams Bigger Than War
Mohammad dreams of becoming a respected engineer and returning one day to rebuild Gaza’s infrastructure from the ground up.
Saleh hopes to continue journalism and tell stories that make a difference.
Despite carrying trauma heavier than suitcases, both say Ireland gave them something precious, a chance to dream.
“Gaza will always live inside me,” Mohammad said. “But I need to achieve something, I need to return one day and help rebuild the place that raised me.”
Saleh added, “It’s beautiful to live somewhere where people see you as a human, somewhere safe.”
For them, Limerick is not the end of their story, it’s where a new chapter finally begins.The journey to healing may start far from home, but it always leads us back to where we truly belong.