A pair of twin brothers reunited in Gaza after Israel temporarily allowed movement within the enclave as part of a ceasefire agreement. Their emotional embrace became a powerful symbol of Palestinian survival after 15 months of war, separation, and destruction.
A video of their tearful hug circulated worldwide, showing the joy and pain of their reunion. Ibrahim and Mahmoud al-Atout, both 30 years old, had suffered personal loss during the conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel.
“I didn’t want to let go of him. It’s like the soul returned to the chest, the soul returned to the heart,” Mahmoud said in a video obtained by Reuters. The two brothers, from the Jabalia area in northern Gaza, had been separated early in the war.
The Israeli military response led to more than 47,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health authorities. Much of Gaza was reduced to rubble, and Israel barred civilians from returning to the north until last week’s ceasefire agreement.
Ibrahim had been forced to flee south, while Mahmoud stayed in the north. When Ibrahim learned he could return, he called Mahmoud, who rushed to a meeting point on a main road leading home.
Mahmoud waited for six hours, anxiously searching for his brother. Many mistook him for Ibrahim, surprised to see him back in the north so soon.
As soon as he heard his name called, Mahmoud ran and embraced his brother. “I couldn’t comprehend,” he said, recalling the overwhelming emotions of that moment.
Now reunited, the twins and their families visit the remains of their home, which was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in November 2023. That attack killed one of Ibrahim’s daughters and severely injured another.
Palestinians accuse Israel of indiscriminate bombing, while Israel says it targets Hamas while trying to minimize civilian harm. The war has displaced millions and left Gaza in ruins.
Ibrahim had not wanted to leave the north, but Israeli forces advanced toward the Indonesian Hospital, where he had taken shelter. The Red Crescent evacuated his family to a larger hospital in the south for safety and medical care.
Life in the south was difficult, with no home or possessions, and communications were cut off for four months. “I was devastated to the point where I lost weight,” Mahmoud said.
Together again, the brothers now spend evenings by a fire near their destroyed home. They bake bread on a metal shelf while their children watch, finding comfort in each other’s presence despite the hardships.
