Attorney for Medway family calls on president to stay overseas until all Americans are evacuated from Gaza Strip
WASHINGTON - An attorney for the Okal family from Medway is calling on President Biden to stay overseas until all Americans stuck in the Gaza Strip amid Israeli airstrikes are safely brought home.
Wafaa Abuzayda, Abood Okal and their 1-year-old son Yousef were visiting relatives in Gaza when Hamas attacked earlier this month. They're in a dire situation as they try to get back home to Massachusetts because Egypt has closed the border crossing at Rafah. Their family friend and attorney said they feel abandoned, are running out of supplies and Yousef has a fever and ear infection.
"The situation is, frankly, extremely dire to them," said Sammy Nebulsi. "A couple of days ago, they ran out of drinking water, I'm not sure exactly what they're doing to get water supply. Food supply is limited. The situation is extremely dangerous for them and the other 500 to 600 American citizens trapped right now in Gaza. President Biden should not be getting on a plane and coming back to the United States until he secures a safe and immediate departure of every American citizen in Gaza, period."
Meanwhile, Massachusetts senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, as well as New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, wrote a letter Wednesday to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, asking them to help the Medway family as well as others from New England who are in the region.
"These families are terrified for their lives and growing more frustrated as promises of escape through the opening of the Rafah crossing remain unfulfilled," Warren wrote. "As with all civilians in Gaza, these families' situation only grows more concerning as Gaza runs out of food, water, fuel for hospitals, and other critical supplies."
Warren said Abood's sister was also trying to cross the border with her three children "while the crossing came under fire from Israel."
"We appreciate all of the work the State Department is doing to secure humanitarian aid and safe passage for these families, as well as the support and communication we have received from the State Department regarding assistance for Americans, including those from Massachusetts," the letter states. "But we continue to have questions about what assistance will be provided to these families, including transportation assistance and security assurances of the crossing area, as well as more information about when these families can be confident there will be safe passage through the Rafah crossing."
