US citizens fleeing Gaza say border crossing still closed
US citizens said they were stranded at the Gaza-Egypt border on Saturday afternoon, although a US official said earlier that a deal had been reached. was concluded to allow them to safely leave the blockaded enclave.
The official said Israel and Egypt had agreed to allow the Americans to pass through the Rafah crossing from Gaza between noon and 5 p.m. local hour. But as of 4 p.m., the passage remained closed, according to two families.
“It’s absolutely distressing,” said Lena Beseiso, 57, who was waiting for Gaza side of the border with her husband, two of her daughters and a 10-year-old grandson, in a text message. "I'm so worried now more than ever."
There was no immediate comment from the State Department. The official who spoke earlier about the deal said it was unclear whether Hamas, which controls Gaza, would allow safe passage. Egyptian authorities have also not confirmed that they will open the crossing.
Wael Abu Omar, the Palestinian spokesman for the Rafah crossing, confirmed via text message that the terminal was closed. He and a diplomat familiar with the matter said Egypt had said it would not allow foreign nationals to leave unless humanitarian aid was allowed into Gaza. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions.
Ms. Beseiso, who lives in Salt Lake City and was in Gaza visiting relatives, said she and her family tried to leave Gaza on Tuesday but the Israeli army bombed the Rafah crossing.
She said she received messages from the State Department on Saturday ordering Americans in Gaza to head toward the border with Egypt. Dozens of people were still waiting there as the passage window narrowed, she said.
“Everyone here is afraid something will happen is going badly,” Ms. Beseiso said. “I hope it opens. We'll wait a little longer."
Abdulla Okal said his wife, Haneen, who was in Gaza to be near family while she was in labor, also waited at the border with his three children and extended family. Mr. Okal, who lives in New Jersey, shared a text message from his wife with the New York Times saying "the gate is still closed" and that she and the children were "scared." hours. “How did the US Embassy tell people to report to the Rafah border crossing and the gate is closed?”
Mr. Okal said he was worried about his wife and family because “it will be dark soon.”
At 5 p.m. came and went, Abood Okal — a Massachusetts resident and Haneen's brother — always waited at the locked crossing with his wife, 1-year-old son and the rest of the extended family.
US citizens said they were stranded at the Gaza-Egypt border on Saturday afternoon, although a US official said earlier that a deal had been reached. was concluded to allow them to safely leave the blockaded enclave.
The official said Israel and Egypt had agreed to allow the Americans to pass through the Rafah crossing from Gaza between noon and 5 p.m. local hour. But as of 4 p.m., the passage remained closed, according to two families.
“It’s absolutely distressing,” said Lena Beseiso, 57, who was waiting for Gaza side of the border with her husband, two of her daughters and a 10-year-old grandson, in a text message. "I'm so worried now more than ever."
There was no immediate comment from the State Department. The official who spoke earlier about the deal said it was unclear whether Hamas, which controls Gaza, would allow safe passage. Egyptian authorities have also not confirmed that they will open the crossing.
Wael Abu Omar, the Palestinian spokesman for the Rafah crossing, confirmed via text message that the terminal was closed. He and a diplomat familiar with the matter said Egypt had said it would not allow foreign nationals to leave unless humanitarian aid was allowed into Gaza. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions.
Ms. Beseiso, who lives in Salt Lake City and was in Gaza visiting relatives, said she and her family tried to leave Gaza on Tuesday but the Israeli army bombed the Rafah crossing.
She said she received messages from the State Department on Saturday ordering Americans in Gaza to head toward the border with Egypt. Dozens of people were still waiting there as the passage window narrowed, she said.
“Everyone here is afraid something will happen is going badly,” Ms. Beseiso said. “I hope it opens. We'll wait a little longer."
Abdulla Okal said his wife, Haneen, who was in Gaza to be near family while she was in labor, also waited at the border with his three children and extended family. Mr. Okal, who lives in New Jersey, shared a text message from his wife with the New York Times saying "the gate is still closed" and that she and the children were "scared." hours. “How did the US Embassy tell people to report to the Rafah border crossing and the gate is closed?”
Mr. Okal said he was worried about his wife and family because “it will be dark soon.”
At 5 p.m. came and went, Abood Okal — a Massachusetts resident and Haneen's brother — always waited at the locked crossing with his wife, 1-year-old son and the rest of the extended family.
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