Amru AbuSafia and their cat
Mohammed AbuSafia, a resident of Gaza, lost all five of his brothers and both of his parents last month in Israeli airstrikes. In this photo, his youngest brother, Amru, is pictured with their family cat, Absi. “We all cared for [Amru]. We all loved him so much,” AbuSafia told Reset. “Every time I talked to him, he said how much he hated the fear he was going through.”
Amru AbuSafia and their cat

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

Chicago-area family mourns more than 30 relatives killed in Gaza

On top of their grief, Mohammed Abu Realh and his nephew Mohammed AbuSafia are dealing with uncertainty as they wait each day to hear from their remaining family and friends in Gaza.

Mohammed AbuSafia, a resident of Gaza, lost all five of his brothers and both of his parents last month in Israeli airstrikes. In this photo, his youngest brother, Amru, is pictured with their family cat, Absi. “We all cared for [Amru]. We all loved him so much,” AbuSafia told Reset. “Every time I talked to him, he said how much he hated the fear he was going through.”
By Max Lubbers

Mohammed Abu Realh spends his days waiting for texts from his family. He wants to know whether his relatives have made it through the night. A resident of the southwest suburbs, he grew up in a refugee camp in Gaza, where he still has many family members and friends. He says Israeli airstrikes have killed over 30 of his relatives in the past month. His nephew, Mohammed AbuSafia, is also originally from Gaza. Earlier this year, he came to the U.S. for a medical internship, and he is now staying with Abu Realh after his parents and siblings were killed in Gaza.

Reset talks with Abu Realh and AbuSafia about their family’s lives and the continued fear they’re facing.

For Reset’s full coverage of the Israel-Hamas war and how it’s affecting the Chicago area, head over to wbez.org/reset.

AbuSafia family
Mohammed AbuSafia is pictured here (second from the left) with some of his family. On his left is his brother Osama AbuSafia, a medical student who had completed his Step 1 exam. From his right is: his father, Samih AbuSafia, who worked in the environmental field; Husam, a high school student who loved science and played chess with Mohammed; Albaraa, an IT engineer who had recently got engaged; and Amru, a secondary-school student who liked playing video games. Mohammed AbuSafia also lost his mother, Rajaa, a high school headteacher, and his brother Ahmed, who was known for being funny and a “one-man-party.” He shares about his family’s lives, and reflects on his loss, with Reset. Courtesy of Mohammed AbuSafia

GUESTS: Mohammed Abu Realh, Bridgeview, Ill., resident with family in Gaza

Mohammed AbuSafia, a doctor and a resident of Gaza; Abu Realh’s nephew

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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

Amru AbuSafia and their cat
Mohammed AbuSafia, a resident of Gaza, lost all five of his brothers and both of his parents last month in Israeli airstrikes. In this photo, his youngest brother, Amru, is pictured with their family cat, Absi. “We all cared for [Amru]. We all loved him so much,” AbuSafia told Reset. “Every time I talked to him, he said how much he hated the fear he was going through.”
Amru AbuSafia and their cat

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

Chicago-area family mourns more than 30 relatives killed in Gaza

On top of their grief, Mohammed Abu Realh and his nephew Mohammed AbuSafia are dealing with uncertainty as they wait each day to hear from their remaining family and friends in Gaza.

Mohammed AbuSafia, a resident of Gaza, lost all five of his brothers and both of his parents last month in Israeli airstrikes. In this photo, his youngest brother, Amru, is pictured with their family cat, Absi. “We all cared for [Amru]. We all loved him so much,” AbuSafia told Reset. “Every time I talked to him, he said how much he hated the fear he was going through.”
By Max Lubbers

Mohammed Abu Realh spends his days waiting for texts from his family. He wants to know whether his relatives have made it through the night. A resident of the southwest suburbs, he grew up in a refugee camp in Gaza, where he still has many family members and friends. He says Israeli airstrikes have killed over 30 of his relatives in the past month. His nephew, Mohammed AbuSafia, is also originally from Gaza. Earlier this year, he came to the U.S. for a medical internship, and he is now staying with Abu Realh after his parents and siblings were killed in Gaza.

Reset talks with Abu Realh and AbuSafia about their family’s lives and the continued fear they’re facing.

For Reset’s full coverage of the Israel-Hamas war and how it’s affecting the Chicago area, head over to wbez.org/reset.

AbuSafia family
Mohammed AbuSafia is pictured here (second from the left) with some of his family. On his left is his brother Osama AbuSafia, a medical student who had completed his Step 1 exam. From his right is: his father, Samih AbuSafia, who worked in the environmental field; Husam, a high school student who loved science and played chess with Mohammed; Albaraa, an IT engineer who had recently got engaged; and Amru, a secondary-school student who liked playing video games. Mohammed AbuSafia also lost his mother, Rajaa, a high school headteacher, and his brother Ahmed, who was known for being funny and a “one-man-party.” He shares about his family’s lives, and reflects on his loss, with Reset. Courtesy of Mohammed AbuSafia

GUESTS: Mohammed Abu Realh, Bridgeview, Ill., resident with family in Gaza

Mohammed AbuSafia, a doctor and a resident of Gaza; Abu Realh’s nephew

More From

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons