Mohammed Abu Daqqa, a 31-year-old Palestinian from Gaza, traveled from Libya to the Italian island of Lampedusa by jet ski in August. He is currently residing in a refugee welcome center in Osnabrück, Germany, where he has applied for asylum and hopes to be reunited with his family.
Background and Displacement from Gaza
Prior to October 2023, Abu Daqqa operated a successful internet and import business in Gaza, owning two homes and a car. Following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli offensive, his assets, including his business, car, and homes, were destroyed. Abu Daqqa states that over 250 members of his extended family have been killed in the offensive, which the Gaza Health Ministry reports has resulted in over 69,000 fatalities. His wife and two sons, Sanad (6) and Mahmoud (4), have experienced multiple displacements and have resided in a tent encampment on the seashore for several months, facing food shortages.
In April 2024, Abu Daqqa paid to exit Gaza via the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, with the intention for his family to follow. However, the subsequent Israeli control of the border prevented his family from leaving.
International Travel and Asylum Attempts
After leaving Gaza, Abu Daqqa sought asylum in various countries. He reports that applications to Arab states, including Morocco and the United Arab Emirates, were rejected. His attempt to claim asylum in China was interrupted when, he states, he was detained by police for a week and then compelled to leave the country. He subsequently traveled to Malaysia and Indonesia.
Abu Daqqa then went to Libya, staying with relatives in Tripoli and attempting to establish a motorcycle home-delivery service. On March 20, he received news of an Israeli airstrike on his uncle's home, which he states resulted in the deaths of all occupants except for his then 25-day-old niece. Two months later, his remaining home in Gaza was also destroyed.
The Jet Ski Journey to Europe
Faced with delays in securing passage via conventional smuggler boats, Abu Daqqa decided to attempt the crossing to Italy by jet ski. He researched the feasibility using ChatGPT and purchased a jet ski in Tripoli for $5,000. He modified the jet ski by attaching a rubber dinghy to carry additional fuel and food. Two other Palestinian individuals from Gaza joined him on the journey.
On August 17, at approximately 1 a.m., the three men departed from the Libyan coast. During the initial 70 kilometers, they encountered waves reportedly up to 2-3 meters high, after which the sea conditions became calm. They continued until their fuel reserves were depleted approximately 12 miles off the coast of Lampedusa. Abu Daqqa used a satellite phone to contact a relative in Germany, who then alerted a migrant rescue hotline. A Romanian patrol boat subsequently rescued the individuals.
Current Status and Family Reunification Efforts
Upon arrival in Italy, Abu Daqqa traveled to Germany, where he has applied for asylum. His family remains in Gaza, in an area reportedly close to the Israeli-controlled border. Following a ceasefire announcement in early October, his elder son, Sanad, conveyed hopes of leaving Gaza. Abu Daqqa's efforts to reunite with his family are currently subject to asylum bureaucratic procedures in Germany.