One year after fleeing from Gaza to Egypt, CGTN's Palestinian correspondent Noor Harazeen carries the weight of survivor's guilt, watching her homeland's destruction from afar while clinging to a pot of sage, the scent of home.
Over 100,000 displaced Gazans share her torment, grateful for safety but haunted by thoughts of families still under bombardment.
"It has been a year now since I stayed in Egypt after leaving Gaza. Life is not easy being away from your homeland and your family and your loved ones. I'm living here while my extended family in Gaza and lots and lots of my friends and fellow colleagues and journalists are still in Gaza suffering, starving, being subjected to the continuous Israeli attacks, so it is not an easy thing for me," said Harazeen.
She said though the family is living in peace now, they are hoping that the Rafah border could reopen soon and they can resume their lives in Gaza.
"But this is the fact of the life that I'm living now and unfortunately I cannot move on. I'm one of these people that would face a very hard time to move on a hardship that she faces and I'm not alone. I mean there's more than 100,000 Gazans who evacuated Gaza to Egypt during the Israeli genocide on Gaza and I do believe that we are all sharing the same thing. We are very thankful that we are living a better life looking at everything that we are having here in Egypt, but at the same time, our only goal now is for the Rafah border to open and for us to go back to Gaza," said Harazeen.
Enjoying the time being with her children in a small garden in her house offers Harazeen a break from the concerns, she said.
"This little garden, it gives me a relief, you know, sometimes it keeps me busy. Following all of the news about Gaza, like my day, like when I wake up, when I open my eyes in the morning until I go to sleep and my whole brain is just thinking about Gaza and my eyes are only watching the news of Gaza even on TV or social media. My heart, my soul is there thinking of Gaza, so I thought that I should keep myself maybe a little bit busy.
In the garden Harazeen has a pot of sage which brings her some solace.
"This is called Meramie, in English it's a sage. I know it's present in other cultures but it's very famous in the Gazan culture, like I grew up drinking this. It smells so good, this so much reminds me of Gaza," she said.
Displaced Gazan journalist in Egypt shares survivor's guilt, hope for return
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
