A Palestinian-American Family and their Infant Son Successfully Leave Gaza

A Palestinian-American family has successfully escaped from Gaza after being trapped there for almost a month due to the conflict. Abood Okal, Wafaa Abuzayda, and their one-year-old son, Yousef, crossed the Rafah crossing into Egypt with the approval of border authorities. They were among 400 US citizens and 100 others who were allowed to leave Gaza, but many more foreign nationals remain in the enclave. The family had been visiting relatives and exploring various places in Israel when the conflict broke out, forcing them to flee to the south of Gaza. They stayed in a house near the border crossing, hoping to eventually be permitted to leave. Despite daily attempts to contact the US state department and American embassies for assistance, they received vague explanations and were never granted permission to cross. The family's living conditions worsened throughout their ordeal, with limited access to water, fuel, and food. Their son, Yousef, was also deeply affected by the conditions, experiencing night terrors and being inconsolable. Fortunately, their names appeared on a list allowing them to enter Egypt, and they were transported to Cairo by US consular affairs officials. The Okal family is now looking forward to returning to the United States but asks for privacy and prays for the safety of all remaining Americans and the innocent civilians in Gaza who are suffering from a lack of basic necessities.