Four sisters from the Druze community recently experienced a heartwarming reunion after being separated for 22 years due to war and occupation. The Safadi sisters, residing in Majdal Shams, a Druze town near the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, were able to see their sister, Sawsan, who lives in Syria, from a distance across the border.
The Golan Heights, a rocky plateau annexed by Israel in 1981, has been a point of contention as the international community considers it occupied Syrian territory. Families like the Safadis have been divided by this geopolitical conflict, with limited opportunities for physical contact over the years.
Despite the challenges, the sisters have found ways to stay connected, from using 'Shouting Hill' for communication to embracing video calls as technology advanced. However, the recent fall of the Assad regime in Syria has sparked renewed hope for families separated by the border.
Since the regime change, the sisters have been meeting daily at the border fence, making video calls and trying to catch glimpses of each other across the hill. The emotional toll of being so close yet unable to embrace their loved ones is palpable, as they express a mix of sadness, joy, and hope for a future reunion.
While the Israeli military's presence in the buffer zone has increased, signaling potential shifts in the region's dynamics, it remains uncertain whether long-standing hostilities between Israel and Syria will ease. Nevertheless, families like the Safadis hold onto the belief that change is possible and that they may one day be reunited with their relatives.
For the Safadi sisters, the sight of Sawsan across the hill serves as a bittersweet reminder of their enduring bond and the distance that separates them. As they wave, weep, and exchange words through technology, their longing for a physical embrace grows stronger, fueling their determination to overcome the barriers that have kept them apart for so long.
