Fleeing airstrikes, injured US citizen in Gaza urges Washington to get him out

By Mohammad Majid

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - A US citizen living in Gaza is urging the US government to take him and his family out of Gaza after being injured by an Israeli airstrike on his family home in Gaza.

Yousef Abu Shaban, 18, is a Palestinian who holds the US citizenship and is currently receiving medical treatment at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza after his family home was struck by an Israeli airstrike.

His 14-year-old sister Joud was killed and two family members were also injured in the Israeli airstrike.

"We are civilians but were subjected to Israeli bombardment by many missiles," Yousef told Anadolu.

"I urge the US Embassy to evacuate me and my family as soon as possible," he also said.

Yousef added that the embassy asked US citizens in Gaza to go towards the Rafah crossing, southern Gaza, to evacuate them, but that didn't happen.

He noted that his family and he went to a shelter in a school affiliated with the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency or UNRWA, but didn't stay as there was no health care or food there, and were forced to return to their home, which was hit by Israeli warplanes.

- Americans stuck in Gaza

Hundreds of US citizens are stuck in Gaza waiting for the opening of the Rafah crossing to be evacuated via Egypt.

According to The New York Times, there are between 500-600 US citizens in Gaza.

It added that US officials are in contact with most of them, and have informed them of their efforts to open the Rafah crossing.

US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the US is holding talks with Egypt and Israel on a safe corridor for civilians to leave Gaza.

The conflict in Gaza, under Israeli bombardment and blockade since Oct. 7, began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Gaza is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis, with no electricity, while water, food, fuel, and medical supplies are running out.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an “immediate humanitarian cease-fire” to ease the “epic human suffering.”

At least 4,137 Palestinians, including 1,524 children and 1,000 women have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, while the figure stands at more than 1,400 people in Israel.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar