When Weam left Egypt nine months ago to seek safety for her family and medical treatment for her daughter Julia, who suffers from a severe illness, she was close to giving birth. Just after her mother's arrival in Italy, young Maya was born.

Thus, the medical staff at the Burlo Garofolo hospital in Italy's northeastern city of Trieste ended up helping 20-year-old Weam give birth prior to doing what they had expected to: assisting her sick elder daughter.

Her husband Muhammad, 28, had never had the chance to meet Maya before he arrived at the Trieste airport on January 23. Following a nine-month separation, he was finally able to embrace his wife and his elder daughter once again, as well as his younger one for the first time.

Israeli bombing destroyed home

The family managed to flee the devastation of the Gazan city of Khan Younis to the safety of Egypt last April thanks to the humanitarian organisation Kinder Relief. Later they reached Cairo thanks to the UK-based Save a Child and, with the assistance of the Italian doctor Marino Andolina, they found the Burlo Garofolo Pediatric Institute, who were willing to help both the young girl and other Palestinians in need of medical treatment.

Although bombs destroyed the home of Weam and Muhammad, they were not killed under the rubble. But the family believe Julia may have inhaled white phosphorus that they say was dropped in bombs by Israeli aircraft. Organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch both released reports in October 2023 alleging the use of white phosphorus by Israel over both Gaza and South Lebanon. However, when Israel was accused of using the substance in weapons in the past, in 2013, they promised to cease using it in populated areas.

Following the bombing, Julia's health deteriorated sharply and she was diagnosed with lymphoma. Her life was saved only through a series of delicate interventions preventing her from suffocating to death, the doctors explained.

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Weam went to the airport to await her husband with a bouquet of nine roses: one for every month of separation.

She was accompanied by both friends and assistants from the hospital and humanitarian organizations.

Muhammad, sporting a crew cut and pushing a trolley, knelt down and hugged Julia for a long time, then took tiny Maya in his arms and only afterwards greeted Weam, who could not stop crying.

The Comunità of Sant'Egidio assisted him and helped organize his trip to Italy.

In July, as part of his visit to Trieste for Catholic Week, Pope Francesco met with the ill, the disabled, and migrants including Weam. At that time, the young woman mentioned that she was hoping that her family could be reunited."I am happy," Weam said shortly after her husband arrived."Thank you to everyone. I am happy."

However, she said in Italian that she had no idea of what the future holds. Weam has begun learning Italian but says that eventually, she would love to be able to return home, but "only when it is posible."