In the Golan Heights town of Majdal Shams, four sisters recently gathered near a fence that separates them from a sibling they haven’t seen in over two decades. With emotions running high, one sister waved her jacket above her head, and soon they spotted a distant figure waving back from the hillside — it was Sawsan, the sister who had been living in Syria since her marriage.
The Safadi sisters, members of the Druze community, have been separated due to the complex political situation in the region. The Golan Heights, territory seized by Israel from Syria in 1967, has divided families like the Safadis. While five of the sisters live in Majdal Shams, Sawsan has remained in Syria, maintaining a life there with her family, including an olive and apple farm.
For years, visits across the fence have been nearly impossible, and families would use loudspeakers from a “Shouting Hill” to communicate. However, the onset of the Syrian civil war complicated these interactions, pushing families further apart. Yet, with recent changes following the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime, some families are finding new ways to connect, including video calls from their respective sides of the divide.
Soha, one of the sisters, expressed a blend of emotions upon seeing Sawsan. Despite the physical separation, the sisters find solace in these small encounters. They have resumed their daily visits to the fence, sharing video calls and trying to spot each other across the distance. Hope blooms within them as they cling to the idea that barriers might soon ease, allowing for a reunion.
Sawsan’s proximity, only a short distance away, comes with mixed feelings for the sisters. They feel joy at seeing her but are weighed down by the ache of separation. The heartbreak of longing for a hug or the chance to be together is evident as they share their experiences, particularly when their nephew, whom they had only met once as a toddler, was brought into the conversation.
While it is still uncertain if the changing political landscape will improve relations between Israel and Syria, the Safadi sisters, like many others in similar situations, hold onto hope. Their efforts, though met with challenges, represent a desire for connection and family, even when that connection is just out of reach.
