In Gaza almost a month has passed since Folla Saqer and her two American citizen children, Zain and Zaina, have been trapped in the territory.
Her husband, Ramiz Younis, anxiously awaits news that they are safe and have crossed into neighboring Egypt to return to the United States, as per BBC News.
Biden Urges Israel to Prioritize Gaza Civilians' Safety
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 25: U.S. President Joe Biden holds a press conference with Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese the Rose Garden at the White House on October 25, 2023 in Washington, DC. President Biden and Prime Minister Albanese are speaking to the media following a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office.
President Joe Biden has spoken out about the disturbing scenes of children crying for their parents in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. He cautioned Israel about the importance of following international and humanitarian law while defending its citizens from terror attacks.
Biden's comments came as the Israel Defense Forces struck a refugee camp for the second consecutive day, claiming to target a leading Hamas figure. The Biden administration has emphasized the need for Israel to prioritize the protection of civilians and abide by the rules of war.
However, they have refrained from responding to individual incidents or dictating Israel's conduct during the conflict. Notably, the United States is planning to provide billions of dollars in new military aid to Israel.
The devastating images of children crying out for lost parents and parents resorting to writing their children's names on their bodies to ensure identification have deeply affected President Biden.
He acknowledged the distressing situation and expressed his concern for the people of Gaza at a public event where a child in the audience cried out, to which Biden responded encouragingly, stating that kids are allowed to express their emotions.
During his speech, Biden also highlighted the progress made in negotiations to evacuate dual citizens from Gaza. He credited intense and urgent American diplomacy, explicitly mentioning his conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Additionally, he commended Qatar for its cooperation in the talks, even though Qatar has previously provided financial support to Hamas.
In conjunction with the evacuation efforts, Biden emphasized the need to increase the flow of critical humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel's incursions into the territory have disrupted access to essential resources, such as water and energy, according to Mail Online.
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US Takes Action to Evacuate Citizens From Gaza Amid Legal Challenges
The United States aims to address the humanitarian crisis through coordinated efforts with regional partners. While traveling to Minnesota, President Biden experienced an incident wherein the helicopter carrying reporters had to make an unscheduled landing due to an electrical issue triggering preventative alarms.
The problem was swiftly resolved, and Biden continued on his journey. Meanwhile, American citizens trapped in Gaza and their families in the United States have taken legal action against the US State Department.
They accuse the government of disparate treatment in repatriation efforts compared to the evacuation of Americans in Israel. Lawyers, working pro bono, have filed a series of lawsuits demanding that the Biden administration take action to ensure the safety of their clients in Gaza.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, and the urgency to evacuate US citizens continues. Efforts are underway to reopen the Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border partially. However, exact details about the number of US citizens that have left Gaza are unclear at this time.
These lawsuits highlight the frustration and desperation of families whose loved ones are in harm's way in Gaza. They argue that if the US government can evacuate American citizens from Israel, they should extend the same protections to Palestinian Americans facing indiscriminate bombings.
The State Department, while working urgently with Egypt, the United Nations, and Israel, aims to facilitate the safe exit of US citizens and their immediate family members from Gaza to their final destinations. However, confusion and delays in the repatriation process have left many feeling unsupported and abandoned.
While international law may not legally obligate countries to protect or repatriate their citizens, Biden's administration recognizes the political and moral incentives to do so. Efforts are ongoing to fulfill these obligations and ensure the safety of US citizens caught during a violent conflict, The Guardian reported.
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