Israel - Palestinian militants launch massive attack, 7 Oct 2023 #4

[JennieM]

1 min ago

Attorneys for family stuck in Gaza file lawsuit and demand safe evacuation​

From CNN's Melissa Alonso

The family of Palestinian Americans currently stuck in Gaza filed a lawsuit Friday against the US Department of State and the US Department of Defense for allegedly failing to safely evacuate citizens, according to a released statement.

The complaint was filed Friday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of Zakaria A. Alarayshi and Laila K. Alarayshi— US citizens who are "of Palestinian ethnicity and residents of Dearborn, Michigan ... currently trapped abroad in the Gaza Strip," according to the lawsuit.

The couple left Michigan to "visit family residing there in the Gaza Strip. They left the United States before the commencement of the current hostilities unaware that they were on the horizon," said the complaint.

“They just hit the house next to us. We are scared," the Alarayshi family said in a statement released by their attorneys. "We can’t go to the bathroom; we can’t go anywhere. We don’t have electricity, we’re without water, there’s nothing. I think we are going to die before we leave.”

Attorneys with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) along with the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) are working with the couple's son, Yahya Alarayshi, who authorized lawyers to file the complaint on behalf of the family after they lost all communication with his parents for 24 hours, the complaint said.

ACRL and ADC "accuse the US Government of unconstitutionally discriminating against Palestinian Americans by not securing their safety and well-being," the attorney statement read.

"Our lawsuit underscores a grave concern: the deeply troubling inaction of the US Government in ensuring the safety and well-being of its own citizens. We believe that every American deserves the unequivocal support and protection of their government when faced with life-threatening circumstances,” said Abed Ayoub, ADC national executive director.

“American Muslims and Arab Americans do not feel represented by our government right now," said a Friday statement from Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib.

"Many families in the US seeking help to get their loved ones out of Gaza feel that Secretary (Antony) Blinken is not making their safety a priority. The Biden Administration is failing in its duty to protect all civilian and American lives in Gaza. I cannot believe I have to beg our country to value every human life, no matter their faith or ethnicity. We cannot lose sight of the humanity in each other,” Tlaib said.

Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages as crisis deepens in Gaza

Gaza is being "strangled" by Israel's week-long siege and aerial bombardment, UN experts warned, as concerns grow that further escalation and a lack of safety for fleeing civilians risks drawing regional foes into the long-running conflict. Follow here for live updates.

edition.cnn.com

 

[HawthorneJuniper]

when “the opportunity arises on the ground."

would really like to know what that means. sounds ominous to me, IMO

IMO, it’s just part of the Hamas plan. Pretend to WANT to release the hostages but it’s too dangerous so people will force a cease fire which leaves Hamas free to continue to operate.

 

[JennieM]

UN Security Council suspended session amid competing resolutions​

Nada Tawfik
BBC News, New York

The UN Security Council suspended its session earlier this evening after the UAE requested that diplomats go into closed consultations.

The move came just before the chamber was about to vote on two competing draft resolutions regarding the situation in Gaza and Israel.

One was proposed by Russia and the other by Brazil. It’s unclear if either of them could pass with enough votes and without any vetoes from the council’s five permanent members.

There are some key differences in the texts. Russia’s calls for a humanitarian “ceasefire”, while Brazil’s calls for humanitarian “pauses” to allow aid access and “encourages” the establishment of humanitarian corridors.

Russia’s draft strongly condemns all acts of terrorism, but Brazil’s draft includes an outright condemnation of “the terrorist attacks by Hamas".

It does not, however, name Israel, even when urging the immediate rescission of the evacuation order of civilians out of northern Gaza.

Both drafts call for the release of hostages.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67119233

 

[tarabull]

Hate crimes across Canada on the rise in wake of Israel-Hamas War

'We ask for peace and safety in these very troubling times'

nationalpost.com

 

[JennieM]

52 min ago
UN humanitarian chief pushes for aid to be allowed into Gaza

Calling this “the worst of times,” the U.N. humanitarian chief said the United Nations is in “deep discussions” with the Israelis, Egyptians and others about getting aid through the Rafah crossing, “hugely helped” by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken who has been traveling in the region.

Martin Griffiths, who is heading to Cairo on Tuesday “to try to help in the negotiations,” said in an interview with the U.N. Monday that he was hoping for “some good news” soon.

Griffiths said the U.N.’s “overwhelming priority” is to get access to Gaza, saying humanitarian rules of war are being violated.

“You cannot ask people to move out of harm’s way without assisting them to do it,” by providing safe places and humanitarian aid, and right now Israel has not made these provisions for Gazans moving from the north to the south, Griffiths said.

He also called for the immediate release of all hostages taken from Israel, many of them children, women, the elderly and the sick, which he said is “unacceptable” and illegal.

Live Updates | Current US assessment is Israel 'not responsible' for Gaza hospital blast, White House says

The statement did not mention fuel, and it was not clear when aid would start flowing.

apnews.com

 

[Cedars]

I also think this was part of their original plan with Hamas in Gaza, just waiting for the next phase, and all the public outcry about "restraint" and "war crimes" etc. against Israel has given them just what they need to try to justify the next phase.

Nations and organizations that wanted to discuss "restraint" and "war crimes" with Israel could have done it discreetly and not publicly. As it is, they have fed right into Iran/Hezbollah's hand.

Possibly, but I personally don't believe Iranians are that good at predicting the response by Western countries and their media, nor are Western strategists putty in Iran's hands. At the very least, both are involved in the same chess game.

It would be interesting to go back to the original stories, but in my awareness it was US Secretary of State Blinken who raised the issue of Gaza civilians, that really captured headlines.

IMO, the US Secretary of State's job description is not about expressing compassion for suffering people. Blinken would have been thoroughly briefed from discussions and policy decisions at the highest levels with US intelligence, diplomatic and strategy experts.

IMO, the decision to show such concern for Gaza citizens was more likely an attempt to pre-empt Iran, (and all the pro-Islamic terrorists and future terrorists), trying not to give them the excuse to foment more anti-American attacks.

JMO

 

[Friday Fan]

I think they would continue to use their proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah. They would need to give permission to Hezbollah terrorists to launch an all-out attack against Israel from Lebanon. I also think this was part of their original plan with Hamas in Gaza, just waiting for the next phase, and all the public outcry about "restraint" and "war crimes" etc. against Israel has given them just what they need to try to justify the next phase.

Nations and organizations that wanted to discuss "restraint" and "war crimes" with Israel could have done it discreetly and not publicly. As it is, they have fed right into Iran's/Hezbollah's hands.

I started thinking that maybe Iran is trying to provoke Israel into attacking them.

Iran would be really stupid to actually attack Israel.

I'm sure they will use their proxies.

 

[Vern]

1 min ago

Attorneys for family stuck in Gaza file lawsuit and demand safe evacuation​

From CNN's Melissa Alonso

The family of Palestinian Americans currently stuck in Gaza filed a lawsuit Friday against the US Department of State and the US Department of Defense for allegedly failing to safely evacuate citizens, according to a released statement.

The complaint was filed Friday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of Zakaria A. Alarayshi and Laila K. Alarayshi— US citizens who are "of Palestinian ethnicity and residents of Dearborn, Michigan ... currently trapped abroad in the Gaza Strip," according to the lawsuit.

The couple left Michigan to "visit family residing there in the Gaza Strip. They left the United States before the commencement of the current hostilities unaware that they were on the horizon," said the complaint.



Attorneys with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) along with the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) are working with the couple's son, Yahya Alarayshi, who authorized lawyers to file the complaint on behalf of the family after they lost all communication with his parents for 24 hours, the complaint said.

ACRL and ADC "accuse the US Government of unconstitutionally discriminating against Palestinian Americans by not securing their safety and well-being," the attorney statement read.

"Our lawsuit underscores a grave concern: the deeply troubling inaction of the US Government in ensuring the safety and well-being of its own citizens. We believe that every American deserves the unequivocal support and protection of their government when faced with life-threatening circumstances,” said Abed Ayoub, ADC national executive director.

“American Muslims and Arab Americans do not feel represented by our government right now," said a Friday statement from Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib.

"Many families in the US seeking help to get their loved ones out of Gaza feel that Secretary (Antony) Blinken is not making their safety a priority. The Biden Administration is failing in its duty to protect all civilian and American lives in Gaza. I cannot believe I have to beg our country to value every human life, no matter their faith or ethnicity. We cannot lose sight of the humanity in each other,” Tlaib said.

Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages as crisis deepens in Gaza

Gaza is being "strangled" by Israel's week-long siege and aerial bombardment, UN experts warned, as concerns grow that further escalation and a lack of safety for fleeing civilians risks drawing regional foes into the long-running conflict. Follow here for live updates.

edition.cnn.com

Interesting take.

Rafah crossing is controlled by Egypt/Hamas. I'm actually seeing plenty of US government, and International pressure and efforts to get it opened up at least for the evacuation of foreign nationals and dual-Palenstinian-Foreign Nation citizens.

Upon reading this, I immediately flashed back to images of helicopters on rooftops in Saigon.

 

[Friday Fan]

1 min ago

Attorneys for family stuck in Gaza file lawsuit and demand safe evacuation​

From CNN's Melissa Alonso

The family of Palestinian Americans currently stuck in Gaza filed a lawsuit Friday against the US Department of State and the US Department of Defense for allegedly failing to safely evacuate citizens, according to a released statement.

The complaint was filed Friday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of Zakaria A. Alarayshi and Laila K. Alarayshi— US citizens who are "of Palestinian ethnicity and residents of Dearborn, Michigan ... currently trapped abroad in the Gaza Strip," according to the lawsuit.

The couple left Michigan to "visit family residing there in the Gaza Strip. They left the United States before the commencement of the current hostilities unaware that they were on the horizon," said the complaint.



Attorneys with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) along with the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) are working with the couple's son, Yahya Alarayshi, who authorized lawyers to file the complaint on behalf of the family after they lost all communication with his parents for 24 hours, the complaint said.

ACRL and ADC "accuse the US Government of unconstitutionally discriminating against Palestinian Americans by not securing their safety and well-being," the attorney statement read.

"Our lawsuit underscores a grave concern: the deeply troubling inaction of the US Government in ensuring the safety and well-being of its own citizens. We believe that every American deserves the unequivocal support and protection of their government when faced with life-threatening circumstances,” said Abed Ayoub, ADC national executive director.

“American Muslims and Arab Americans do not feel represented by our government right now," said a Friday statement from Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib.

"Many families in the US seeking help to get their loved ones out of Gaza feel that Secretary (Antony) Blinken is not making their safety a priority. The Biden Administration is failing in its duty to protect all civilian and American lives in Gaza. I cannot believe I have to beg our country to value every human life, no matter their faith or ethnicity. We cannot lose sight of the humanity in each other,” Tlaib said.

Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages as crisis deepens in Gaza

Gaza is being "strangled" by Israel's week-long siege and aerial bombardment, UN experts warned, as concerns grow that further escalation and a lack of safety for fleeing civilians risks drawing regional foes into the long-running conflict. Follow here for live updates.

edition.cnn.com

This won't go far. They need to sue whoever is controlling the border.

 

[JennieM]

3m ago

Russia's draft resolution fails at Security Council​

A Russian-drafted UN Security Council resolution that would have called for a humanitarian ceasefire in the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in Gaza failed to get the minimum nine votes needed in the 15-member body on Monday.

The draft resolution received five votes in favour, four votes against and there were six abstentions.

Russia proposed the one-page draft text on Friday, which also called for the release of hostages, humanitarian aid access and the safe evacuation of civilians in need.

The text condemned violence against civilians and all acts of terrorism, but did not name Hamas, who killed 1,300 people in Israel on 7 October.

Brazil has meanwhile proposed a resolution that calls for “humanitarian pauses” and also “firmly condemns all violence and hostilities against civilians and all acts of terrorism.” It also “unequivocally rejects and condemns the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas.”

Iran warns of ‘pre-emptive action’ as Gaza ground assault looms – as it happened

This blog is low closed. The latest live updates are here.

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

1m ago
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the envoy to the UN, says that the US is urging Israel to minimise the risk of civilian casualties, Reuters reports.

This echoes comments earlier from US defence secretary Lloyd Austin following a conversation with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant. Austin reiterated the United States’ commitment to avoiding an escalation of the conflict and emphasised civilian safety, the Pentagon said in a readout.

Iran warns of ‘pre-emptive action’ as Gaza ground assault looms – as it happened

This blog is low closed. The latest live updates are here.

www.theguardian.com

 

[Momoffourboys]

Israel's Mossad backs call to shutter Al Jazeera bureau in Jerusalem, amid claims that the Qatar-based network and its reporters were revealing military staging areas and other sensitive locations

https://x.com/i24NEWS_EN/status/1714068711819169855?s=20

 

[JennieM]

10 min ago

Kuwaiti Hospital in Gaza refuses Israeli warning to evacuate site​

From CNN’s Mariya Knight and Kareem Khadder

The Kuwaiti Hospital in Gaza’s Rafah city said Monday that it had received a second warning to evacuate from Israeli's military, but the director-general says he will not leave the site.

In a video obtained by CNN, Sohaib al-Hams, the hospital's director general, said that he won’t evacuate because it is his staff’s duty “to serve the wounded and help the needed" and they can’t leave their patients to die.

He added that the hospital should be protected “under international law.”

Israel's warnings for the hospital come as UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said on Monday that there is an "urgent need for a humanitarian pause" in the fighting in Gaza.

Shamdasani said there are hospitals that have been forced to evacuate but “doctors are insisting that they will stay with patients who are in the ICU wards and the neonatal units, where you have the impossible choice of whether to abandon your patients or to stay with them and risk death.”

CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment.

Airstrikes in the south: Israeli authorities told more than a million people living in north Gaza to evacuate to the southern part of the densely populated strip. But Israeli airstrikes have continued to hit parts of the strip outside the evacuation zone, like Rafah, where at least five people were killed and 15 others were injured in an Israeli airstrike on Monday, according to the Palestinian interior ministry. The ministry said the airstrike happened without prior warning from the Israel Defense Forces.

A humanitarian crisis: Last Monday, Israel announced a complete siege on Gaza, cutting off food, water, and fuel to the territory. The World Health Organization warned that the people in Gaza face an “imminent” public health crisis, saying the limited amount of water is creating a desperate situation as the lives of more than 3,500 patients in 35 hospitals are at immediate risk.

Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages as crisis deepens in Gaza

Gaza is being "strangled" by Israel's week-long siege and aerial bombardment, UN experts warned, as concerns grow that further escalation and a lack of safety for fleeing civilians risks drawing regional foes into the long-running conflict. Follow here for live updates.

edition.cnn.com

 

[JennieM]

3 min ago

31 humanitarian staff killed and hospitals "on the brink of collapse" in Gaza, UN office says​

From CNN’s Kareem El Damanhoury

The number of humanitarian staff killed while on duty in Gaza while on duty has risen to 31, after an Israeli airstrike killed seven civil defense members on Monday, according to a statement from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The statement added that Gaza is under “full electricity blackout” for the sixth day, warning of the repercussions on the healthcare system in the strip.

“Hospitals are on the brink of collapse as their fuel reserves used to operate backup generators have been almost totally depleted, endangering the lives of thousands of patients,” OCHA said.

Earlier, UNRWA, the UN agency that supports Palestinian refugees, said at least 1 million people had been forced to flee their homes in one week alone and at least 400,000 displaced people are taking shelter in UN schools and buildings in Gaza.

Meanwhile, UNICEF-led WASH Cluster warned that the Gaza population is at “imminent risk of death or infectious disease outbreak” if water and fuel are not allowed to enter the strip.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office told CNN Sunday that Israel has restored water to the south of the strip, but the director of Gaza’s water authority disputed that Monday.

The government's media office in Gaza also warned that the strip is “on the brink of a real famine as goods in stores are running out, and no aid is coming to the displaced individuals.”

The World Food Programme (WFP) said in a statement that it provided bread to 107,192 internally displaced people in south Gaza on Sunday, but stressed the need for humanitarian aid to enter the strip.

“We urgently need access through all borders to replenish stocks & deliver assistance,” WFP added.

Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages as crisis deepens in Gaza

Gaza is being "strangled" by Israel's week-long siege and aerial bombardment, UN experts warned, as concerns grow that further escalation and a lack of safety for fleeing civilians risks drawing regional foes into the long-running conflict. Follow here for live updates.

edition.cnn.com

 

[sds71]

@John_Hudson

NEW: "On Wednesday, president Biden will visit Israel," says @SecBlinken

https://x.com/John_Hudson/status/1714069974648500547?s=20

 

[JennieM]

5m ago

Blinken: US and Israel agreed to plan allowing aid to reach civilians in Gaza​

In an update following what became a seven hour meeting with Netanyahu and his cabinet, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that the US and Israel have agreed to a plan that will allow aid to reach civilians in Gaza.


12m ago01.12 BST

Biden to visit Israel on Wednesday, says Blinken​

US President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to make clear Israel has the right to defend itself, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Tuesday.

Biden will reaffirm solidarity with Israel as it prepares for a ground offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza, Blinken said after lengthy talks with Netanyahu.


16m ago01.08 BST

Aid reportedly moving toward Rafah crossing​

Trucks carrying aid for the Gaza Strip are moving from Al Arish in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula towards the Rafah crossing, a witness told Reuters on Tuesday.

It was not clear when or whether the crossing will open.

Truckloads of aid have been idling at Egypt’s border with Gaza as residents and humanitarian groups pleaded Monday for water, food and fuel for dying generators, saying the tiny Palestinian territory sealed off by Israel after last week’s rampage by Hamas was near total collapse.

The Rafah crossing is Gaza’s only connection to Egypt. Mediators are trying to reach a cease-fire that would let in aid and let out trapped foreigners. Israeli airstrikes forced the crossing to shut down last week, but it remains unclear which of the regional actors is keeping the crossing closed, AP reports.

Iran warns of ‘pre-emptive action’ as Gaza ground assault looms – as it happened

This blog is low closed. The latest live updates are here.

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

42s ago
As Biden’s visit to Israel is confirmed, the White House says that Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi have discussed the need to preserve stability in the Middle East during a phone call on Monday, and that in a separate phone call, Biden and Iraq Prime Minister Shia’ Al Sudani discussed efforts to prevent an expansion of the conflict in Gaza.

Biden also discussed the importance of addressing addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza with each leader, the White House said.

Iran warns of ‘pre-emptive action’ as Gaza ground assault looms – as it happened

This blog is low closed. The latest live updates are here.

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

1 min ago

US and Israel agree to develop humanitarian aid plan for civilians in Gaza, Blinken says​

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

The United States and Israel “have agreed to develop a plan that will enable humanitarian aid from donor nations and multilateral organizations to reach civilians in Gaza,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced in the overnight hours in Tel Aviv Tuesday.

“It is critical that aid begin flowing into Gaza as soon as possible,” Blinken said in remarks at a US diplomatic building in Tel Aviv.
The top US diplomat noted that the US shares “Israel's concern that Hamas may seize or destroy entering Gaza or otherwise preventing it from reaching the people who need it.”

“If Hamas in any way blocks humanitarian assistance from reaching civilians, including by seizing the aid itself, we'll be the first to condemn it," he said. "And we will work to prevent it from happening again,” he said.

Blinken said the agreement to work on the plan was done at the US’s request, and they “welcome the government of Israel's commitment to work on this plan.”
“The President very much looks forward to discussing it further when he's here on Wednesday,” he said.

Some context: Blinken's announcement comes as a "complete siege" by Israel has triggered a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with UN officials warning that the crowded strip's health care system is on the brink of collapse. Closed border crossings with Israel and Egypt mean that humanitarian aid has been unable to enter the territory.

Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages as crisis deepens in Gaza

Gaza is being "strangled" by Israel's week-long siege and aerial bombardment, UN experts warned, as concerns grow that further escalation and a lack of safety for fleeing civilians risks drawing regional foes into the long-running conflict. Follow here for live updates.

edition.cnn.com

 

[Friday Fan]

Iran says ‘time running out’ for solution to Gaza war, threatens ‘expanding’ conflict​

Note: This is more in-depth that what I had previously read about Iran's threats.

Iran on Monday said time was running out to reach a political solution to the Israel-Gaza conflict, warning of the “possibility of expanding the scope of war and conflict to other fronts.”

During conversations on Monday with his Russian and Turkish counterparts, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi “warned against the continuation of crimes by the Zionist regime,” the president’s political deputy, Mohammad Jamshidi, wrote on X.

In his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Raisi warned of a “possibility of expanding the scope of war and conflict to other fronts.”


“If this happens, it will be more difficult to control the situation,” Raisi said, according to state news agency IRNA.
snip....
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian also threatened an “expansion of war fronts,” if the war in Gaza does not stop, in an interview on Monday with Al Jazeera.

“Iran cannot stand idly by and watch this situation unfold,” the top diplomat added, noting that every hour, the possibility of a new war front opening increases.

Amir-Abdollahian made his statements during a visit to Qatar, where he met senior Qatari officials, as well as Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau. Qatar has been accused of being a sponsor of Hamas and other terror groups in the region.

The regime’s official IRNA news agency also reported that Iran is negotiating with countries in the region to send “relief items” into Gaza, and to open a field hospital in Egypt near the Gaza border.

In a post on X, Amir-Abdollahian said he told his counterparts in Malaysia, Pakistan, and Tunisia that the “probable spread of war to other fronts is approaching an inevitable stage.”

Iran says ‘time running out’ for solution to Gaza war, threatens ‘expanding’ conflict

Raisi warns Putin of 'possibility of expanding the scope of war' while FM Amir-Abdollahian says the opening of new fronts in conflict is 'approaching an inevitable stage'

www.timesofisrael.com

 

[Sundog]

1 min ago

Attorneys for family stuck in Gaza file lawsuit and demand safe evacuation​

From CNN's Melissa Alonso

The family of Palestinian Americans currently stuck in Gaza filed a lawsuit Friday against the US Department of State and the US Department of Defense for allegedly failing to safely evacuate citizens, according to a released statement.

The complaint was filed Friday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of Zakaria A. Alarayshi and Laila K. Alarayshi— US citizens who are "of Palestinian ethnicity and residents of Dearborn, Michigan ... currently trapped abroad in the Gaza Strip," according to the lawsuit.

The couple left Michigan to "visit family residing there in the Gaza Strip. They left the United States before the commencement of the current hostilities unaware that they were on the horizon," said the complaint.



Attorneys with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) along with the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) are working with the couple's son, Yahya Alarayshi, who authorized lawyers to file the complaint on behalf of the family after they lost all communication with his parents for 24 hours, the complaint said.

ACRL and ADC "accuse the US Government of unconstitutionally discriminating against Palestinian Americans by not securing their safety and well-being," the attorney statement read.

"Our lawsuit underscores a grave concern: the deeply troubling inaction of the US Government in ensuring the safety and well-being of its own citizens. We believe that every American deserves the unequivocal support and protection of their government when faced with life-threatening circumstances,” said Abed Ayoub, ADC national executive director.

“American Muslims and Arab Americans do not feel represented by our government right now," said a Friday statement from Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib.

"Many families in the US seeking help to get their loved ones out of Gaza feel that Secretary (Antony) Blinken is not making their safety a priority. The Biden Administration is failing in its duty to protect all civilian and American lives in Gaza. I cannot believe I have to beg our country to value every human life, no matter their faith or ethnicity. We cannot lose sight of the humanity in each other,” Tlaib said.

Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages as crisis deepens in Gaza

Gaza is being "strangled" by Israel's week-long siege and aerial bombardment, UN experts warned, as concerns grow that further escalation and a lack of safety for fleeing civilians risks drawing regional foes into the long-running conflict. Follow here for live updates.

edition.cnn.com

It's not the U.S. State Department that is stopping the evacuation of the Gaza Strip, it is Hamas at the border crossing near Egypt, as far as I understand it. The State Department has been working tirelessly to get the border crossing with Egypt and southern Gaza open, and then they are there to help American citizens get from Egypt to the U.S.

Sounds like this family is being used by organizations and "leaders" in the U.S. who have their own agenda.