A family from Massachusetts has left Gaza, after spending weeks afraid that they would be killed amid shelling from Israel.
Medway residents Abood Okal, Wafaa Abuzayda and their 1-year-old son Yousef had been waiting weeks to leave the war-torn territory.
"The Okal Family is overwhelmed with the love and support they have received from home and abroad, but they are also exhausted, physically and emotionally drained, and have a long journey ahead of them back to the United States. The Okal Family expresses its deepest gratitude to their family and friends around the world, the Medway community, the media for sharing their plight and the plight of the hundreds of other Americans trapped in Gaza, their elected officials who fought hard for their return, and the State Department for providing them with safe departure," a family spokesperson said in a statement Thursday morning.
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Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, D-Mass., released a statement Thursday on the beginning of their trip home: “After weeks of public and private advocacy, we are relieved that Abood, Wafaa, and Yousef have begun their journey home to Medway. We repeatedly urged the White House, U.S. State Department, and the Egyptian and Israeli governments to do everything possible to help American citizens reach safety, including this Medway family. Their story was seen and heard by thousands of people praying for their safety, and President Biden made clear that securing safe passage for American citizens is a top priority. We will continue pushing to accelerate humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza and supporting American citizens, including our Massachusetts constituents, who seek to leave Israel and Gaza to immediately return home.”
There was no immediate word on whether the Shafai family of Plymouth had been able to leave Gaza. Hazem and Sanaa Shafai and their three children remain in Gaza fighting sickness, but have been hoping to cross into Egypt as well.
More than 370 Americans stuck in Gaza were on a list of people who could cross the border into Egypt on Thursday, according to NBC News.
Okal has previously told NBC10 Boston the wait to leave was frustrating.
"While we are happy for all that have departed and also for the wounded to be able to get medical treatment, we can't help but feel a little frustrated that it's taking longer than we expected. Again, no clear timeline for when we would depart," Okal has said.
The State Department confirmed that fewer than 10 Americans were given permission to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Wednesday.
President Joe Biden is now calling for a humanitarian "pause."
Egyptian and Palestinian officials opened the border to allow a number of injured and about 500 foreign nationals to evacuate the war-torn territory. Only some were able to cross on Wednesday.
