Ezekiel Kitiku, a Tanzanian agricultural intern in Israel, narrowly escaped being taken hostage in the recent Hamas attack on the Gaza Strip. His friends, Joshua Loitu Mollel and Clemence Felix Mtenga, were among over 230 people who were taken hostage. The three friends had arrived in Israel in September and were working on different farms near the Gaza Strip.
On the morning of the attack, Kitiku went to work at the farm while his friends were at their respective locations. As rockets started to rain down from Gaza, Kitiku followed the instructions he had been given and sought shelter. He quickly contacted his friends, but they informed him that they were also seeking shelter. However, unbeknownst to Kitiku, his friends had already been taken hostage by Hamas militants.
As the day progressed, Kitiku was unable to reach his friends and grew increasingly worried. He remained at the farm, sleeping in the shelter and enduring food shortages. The next day, he pleaded with his manager to let him return to his kibbutz in search of his friends, but he was denied entry. Eventually, the IDF escorted him to a safer location further north.
It wasn’t until three weeks later that Kitiku learned his friends were being held hostage in Gaza. While relieved to know they were alive, he remains deeply concerned about their well-being. He understands the dangers they face in the midst of ongoing bombings and the lack of social services in Gaza.
Kitiku reflects on the close call he had and the emotional toll it has taken on him. He is grateful to be safe and still working in Israel, but he can’t help but worry about the condition of his friends. The Tanzanian embassy has offered assistance to students who wish to return home, but Kitiku cannot fathom leaving without knowing the situation his friends are in.
The recent Israel-Gaza conflict has claimed many lives and caused immense destruction. Kitiku’s story is a testament to the profound impact it has had on individuals from all walks of life.
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