Palestinians from Gaza rebuild lives in Mexico City through food

RightMohammed Abed, a 36-year-old Palestinian systems engineer from Gaza, now sells Palestinian food at an open-air market in the Condesa neighbourhood of Mexico City, according to a Reuters report. 1 2 RightLoud noises, such as planes overhead and summer thunder, still cause Abed anxiety and recall the 2025 Israeli bombing campaign in Gaza, in which an air strike killed Abed's 4-year-old daughter. 1 2 RightAbed is one of roughly 160 Palestinians living in Mexico. The report puts the number of people displaced from their homes since the Gaza war began in 2023 at nearly 1.9 million, most of whom remain in the territory, and says many who left resettled in Egypt and Jordan. 1 2

RightAccording to official figures cited in the report, the Palestinian population in Mexico has roughly doubled since 2022. 1 2 RightThe route to Mexico began with Abed's father, Kamal Abed, who emigrated to Mexico more than a decade ago, obtained Mexican citizenship and, after the war began, campaigned to get the family out of Gaza. Kamal travelled to Egypt in 2024 to arrange an evacuation but died of a heart attack before completing it. 1 2 RightAbed's brother Shadi continued the effort and, with help from civil organisations and asylum lawyers in Mexico, secured travel authorisation for 18 family members. After months of paperwork and negotiations, the family crossed into Jordan, passed through Turkey, and reached Mexico City in May 2025; all have since obtained permanent residency. 1 2

RightAbed sells hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, shawarma and kebab, has become known among customers, sells at another Mexico City market on Sundays, and helps Abed's wife prepare Palestinian food banquets she caters for special occasions. Abed's younger brother Fadi also sells Palestinian food and has 48,000 Instagram followers under the handle hijo.de.palestina. 2 1 RightAbed said, "I don't like politics," and wants "to live, like everyone else, in peace." Abed is trying to bring two sisters from Gaza to Mexico, and a youngest son, Yusuf, born in Mexico City in May, is automatically a Mexican citizen. 1 2