Escaping Gaza: My Journey to Freedom

Early on Saturday, October 7, my wife woke me up, alerting me to the sounds of rocket fire outside. Curious, I made my way up to the roof of our house to witness a relentless barrage of projectiles being launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

My two children, Zeid, aged 10, and Khalil, aged 7, accompanied me as I made my way to the roof. Khalil mentioned that there was a high possibility that there would be no school today.

With my phone in hand, I began capturing and recording the events to share with my employer, CNN. As I prepared my belongings, I followed my usual routine from the previous four wars that I had covered in this area. I made my way towards the CNN Gaza bureau, located in the Al-Rimal neighborhood, conveniently positioned next to Al-Shifa Hospital - the largest in Gaza - as well as other news bureaus.

I instructed my pregnant wife, Rasha, and our children to remain indoors. Shortly afterwards, Israel initiated a bombing campaign in response to Hamas rockets and a previous deadly attack on that day.

I reported on the intense airstrikes targeting residential areas until October 9, when the Israeli military issued a warning that the neighborhood containing the CNN office would be targeted. Subsequently, Israel imposed a "total blockade" on Gaza, announcing its intention to cut off the supply of electricity, food, water, and fuel to the enclave.

CNN producer Ibrahim Dahman is pictured with his wife, Rasha, and two children, Zeid and Khalil, in Khan Younis, Gaza on October 15.

The story of my displacement starts when Israeli airstrikes started hitting the enclave. In consultation with my manager in Jerusalem, we made the decision for my family to relocate to the Ayan hotel in the Al-Mashtal neighborhood along the coast. This building is a solid structure believed to be able to withstand shelling and shrapnel, and it has a basement that is frequently utilized as an improvised bomb shelter. It is important to note that Gaza lacks proper bomb shelters for civilians.

My family and I slept and woke up to the sound of explosions for several days in that place. Israeli airstrikes were increasingly focusing on the area.

On October 12, we made the decision to relocate to my sister's house on Al-Jalaa Street. As soon as I stepped out, missiles started pouring down on the residential towers near the hotel.

After spending just one night at my sister's house, we woke up to an urgent call from Israel for all residents in the northern part of the Gaza Strip - where we were located - to evacuate southward. Determined to find a safe haven, I managed to secure a car and embarked on a journey towards Khan Younis, a city near the Egyptian border in the southern region. My hope was to find accommodation at the Crescent Hotel.

To our dismay, upon reaching our destination, we discovered that the hotel had been completely abandoned and rendered uninhabitable. Left with no other option, we frantically searched for an alternative solution and eventually sought refuge in a family member's house located in the Al-Amal neighborhood.

A life of danger and exhaustion

We stayed in Khan Younis for three weeks. Each day, we had to secure essentials for survival: food, water, power.

During our stay, we tirelessly searched for drinkable water, as it was only available in restricted quantities for purchase. Our food supply was regulated, and the queues at the nearby bakery would begin forming as early as 5 a.m., with a maximum purchase limit of 25 small loaves.

Soon after, the bread supply depleted, prompting us to take matters into our own hands and start baking our own.

The water purchased for showering and laundry was acquired in liters, costing approximately 250 Israeli shekels ($65) for 5,000 liters. Interestingly, there were instances when we resorted to drinking this water out of necessity.

During our stay in Khan Younis, we experienced only three occasions when we could shower, and each time it was done with cold water. Unfortunately, after each shower, we ended up developing coughs and infections.

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I had to ensure that my devices remained charged at all times, as losing battery meant losing connection to the outside world. Among the limited places that still had power, hospitals stood out, which is why I made it a daily routine to visit Al-Hilal Hospital in Khan Younis. I would find a spot on the floor and patiently wait for my phone and laptop to recharge.

Eventually, in order to avoid venturing out and risking our lives, I made the decision to install solar panels on our roof. With the assistance of local engineers, we successfully harnessed solar power, providing us with a reliable source of electricity. This was especially fortunate considering that airstrikes were occurring a mere 100 meters away.

As fuel ran out, we used everything from horse and donkey carts to bicycles as means of transportation.

It was a life of danger and exhaustion.

I confiscated my children's phones, concerned about the additional trauma they might face by witnessing the online coverage of the ongoing war. They had already witnessed the devastating impact of bombings and rocket attacks in previous conflicts between Hamas and Israel.

Taking care of my children and my wife in such circumstances caused immense anguish. One day, I reached out to my colleague, Abeer Salman, in Jerusalem, and sobbed uncontrollably, pouring out my emotions.

A lifeline

I received instructions from my manager on November 3, to proceed to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. This directive was given to us because our names were included in a list of individuals submitted by the US embassy in Israel, who were to be evacuated.

Arriving at Rafah, my wife accompanied me with just an identification card, lacking a passport, while my two children solely possessed birth certificates. Prior to this journey, they had never ventured beyond Gaza.

As the sole possessor of a passport, I noted its expiration date, which is in three months' time.

CNN producer is pictured with his wife, two boys and CNN journalist Asmaa Khalil after crossing into Egypt from Gaza, in Rafah, Egypt on November 3.

Ibrahim Dahman from CNN

Fortunately, CNN and the American embassy came to our aid, enabling all of us to enter Egypt using a single passport. As we arrived, the Palestinian embassy in Cairo provided each member of my family with a temporary travel document, with their employees present at the Egyptian border.

We were among the final ten individuals to cross on that particular day. When I arrived in Egypt, my coworker from CNN, Asmaa Khalil, warmly welcomed me at the border.

Upon reaching Cairo, which is located approximately 320 kilometers (198 miles) from the border, I had the opportunity to meet with my CNN colleagues Housam Ahmed, Mary Rogers, and Sarah El Sirgany. They all assisted us in finding a place to settle down and offered invaluable encouragement.

The initial moments of my escape brought immense relief. I had been like a desperate person drowning, desperately seeking something to hold onto in order to survive. By leaving Gaza, I received a much-needed lifeline.

However, as my fear and anxiety start to lessen, I come to the realization that true peace is still far away.

My parents and siblings are still trapped in the enclave, seeking refuge in a school while being surrounded by Israeli shelling. The uncertainty of our future continues to haunt me, leaving me pondering where we will go from here and what lies ahead.

CNN producer Ibrahim Dahman is pictured with his wife, Rasha, by the River Nile in Cairo, Egypt on November 5.

Ibrahim Dahman/CNN

The memories of the past month in Gaza are endless - both trivial and sorrowful. When I left my home, I entrusted my brother with the task of releasing the pigeons I had been caring for, worried that they would go hungry in my absence. Sadly, Rasha had to leave her beloved cat, Lulu, behind as the hotel we were going to did not permit pets. This separation deeply affected my son, Khalil, who had formed a strong bond with Lulu.

Throughout my career, I have witnessed and reported on numerous wars, but none compare to the current conflict. The devastation in Gaza is unimaginable, with entire neighborhoods reduced to ruins. Tragically, thousands of innocent civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, have lost their lives. It is heart-wrenching to contemplate what these civilians have done to deserve such a fate.

In Khan Younis, I was afraid to sleep, worried I would die in my sleep, unable to save myself or my family.

We have escaped the bombing, but our sleep is yet to return.