What will happen to American citizens stuck in Gaza?
As Israel reportedly prepares to invade northern Gaza, United States citizens who were visiting the area when war broke out are moving south in hopes of crossing safely into Egypt, according to The New York Times.
Like other civilians in Gaza, these 500 to 600 Americans are living through a humanitarian crisis. Gaza is running low on water, food and other key supplies amid the fighting between Israel and Hamas, and world leaders, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have failed to get clear answers on when resources will be allowed to enter Gaza or when foreign nationals will be allowed to leave.
Blinken said Monday that “the U.S. and Israel had agreed to develop a plan to enable humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza. There were few details, but the plan would include ‘the possibility of creating areas to help keep civilians out of harm’s way,’” according to The Associated Press.
Until these plans are developed, civilians in Gaza are in limbo. In interviews with The New York Times and other outlets, U.S. citizens in the area described how difficult it’s been to live with uncertainty, not knowing when or if the passage from Gaza to Egypt will open.
“Many said American officials had asked them to fill out forms and wait. But without knowing when they will be able to come home, they said they were scared and wondering if bombings or crossfire would get to them first,” The New York Times reported.
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Lena Beseiso, a 57-year-old Salt Lake City resident, told the Times that she feels abandoned by American officials. She’s currently trapped in Gaza with her 10-year-old grandson, among other family members.
“I feel like I’ve been abandoned by my country,” she said.
One detail fueling the frustration is the fact that officials at the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem are themselves confused about when it will be possible for American citizens and permanent residents to evacuate Gaza into Egypt via the Rafah crossing.
The embassy sent Beseiso and others a note Monday to head to the border opening, but it was based on news reports of a possible evacuation, rather than conversations between U.S., Israeli and Egyptian officials, The New York Times reported.
“Scores of people Monday toted suitcases and garbage bags stuffed with what personal belongings they could carry to the only border crossing into Egypt, only to find the gates on the Gaza side closed and themselves stuck waiting on foundering diplomatic efforts,” the article said.
As of Monday, it was unclear whether Egypt or Israel was refusing to open the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, according to The Associated Press. Israel has expressed concern about Hamas militants benefitting from the humanitarian supplies, while Egypt is worried about being drawn further into the Israel-Hamas war.
“This has become the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. At least 2,778 people have been killed and 9,700 wounded in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry there. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed, the vast majority civilians massacred in Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault,” The Associated Press reported.
