Massachusetts kinfolk flees Gaza after being trapped for weeks amid Israel-Hamas warfare
In remark, kinfolk requests prayers for ‘blameless civilians in Gaza’
Up to date: 4:55 PM EDT Nov 2, 2023
A Massachusetts kinfolk trapped in Gaza for just about a month all the way through the warfare between Israel and Hamas used to be after all ready to pass a border into Egypt on Thursday, they introduced in a remark. Abood Okal, Wafaa Abuzayda and their 1-year-old son, Yousef — all Americans who reside in Medway — have been visiting Abuzayda’s kinfolk in Gaza when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, and become trapped within the siege that adopted. They spent weeks looking ahead to a possibility to pass the border in Rafah. In step with the remark, which used to be issued by means of kinfolk pal Sam Nabulsi, they crossed the border into Egypt round 11:30 a.m. native Gaza time on Thursday. “They’re lately being transported to Cairo by means of United States Consular Affairs,” the remark mentioned. “The Okal Circle of relatives is beaten with the affection and reinforce they’ve won from house and in another country, however they’re additionally exhausted, bodily and emotionally tired, and feature an extended adventure forward of them again to the US.”The kinfolk requested for privateness all the way through their travel house and likewise requested for “prayers for the blameless civilians in Gaza, who gave them refuge, who helped them to find meals and water, however who proceed to be with out their very own provide of meals, water, gas, or medication to reside.”All over their enjoy, Okal periodically despatched recordings to Nabulsi. The ones messages described the kinfolk’s reviews, together with working out of provides, witnessing airstrikes and in search of water.As of Wednesday’s message, the kinfolk used to be nonetheless ready close to the border crossing with Okal’s sister and her 3 kids.”A complete of 40 other people in a single-family house that we have now been sheltering right here for a couple of weeks now,” Okal mentioned. Okal described listening to “bombs all evening” and an ongoing battle for elementary provides, together with water. He mentioned that for a number of consecutive days, they have been simplest ready to procure about 1 gallon of water for everybody in the home.In Wednesday’s recording, Okal described the start of border crossings as “a glimmer of hope for leaving the warfare zone and saving our lives.” Complete remark from Okal kinfolk:”Abood Okal, Wafaa Abuzayda, and their one-year-old son Yousef Okal of Medway, Massachusetts, departed Gaza and crossed safely into Egypt during the Rafah Crossing in a while after 5:30 a.m. EST (11:30 a.m. native Gaza time) on November 2, 2023. They’re lately being transported to Cairo by means of United States Consular Affairs. The Okal Circle of relatives is beaten with the affection and reinforce they’ve won from house and in another country, however they’re additionally exhausted, bodily and emotionally tired, and feature an extended adventure forward of them again to the US. The Okal Circle of relatives expresses its private gratitude to their friends and family world wide, the Medway neighborhood, the media for sharing their plight and the plight of the loads of different American citizens trapped in Gaza, their elected officers who fought exhausting for his or her go back, and the State Division for offering them with secure departure. Right now, the Okal Circle of relatives asks for 3 issues: (1) privateness till they go back safely to their house in Medway, Massachusetts, (2) the speedy and secure departure of the rest Americans and their households in Gaza, and (3) compassion and prayers for the blameless civilians in Gaza, who gave them refuge, who helped them to find meals and water, however who proceed to be with out their very own provide of meals, water, gas, or medication to reside. Main points of the Okal Circle of relatives’s go back date to Medway don’t seem to be recognized right now.”
NEEDHAM, Mass. — A Massachusetts kinfolk trapped in Gaza for just about a month all the way through the warfare between Israel and Hamas used to be after all ready to pass a border into Egypt on Thursday, they introduced in a remark. Abood Okal, Wafaa Abuzayda and their 1-year-old son, Yousef — all Americans who reside in Medway — have been visiting Abuzayda’s kinfolk in Gaza when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, and become trapped within the siege that adopted.
They spent weeks looking ahead to a possibility to pass the border in Rafah. In step with the remark, which used to be issued by means of kinfolk pal Sam Nabulsi, they crossed the border into Egypt round 11:30 a.m. native Gaza time on Thursday. “They’re lately being transported to Cairo by means of United States Consular Affairs,” the remark mentioned. “The Okal Circle of relatives is beaten with the affection and reinforce they’ve won from house and in another country, however they’re additionally exhausted, bodily and emotionally tired, and feature an extended adventure forward of them again to the US.”The kinfolk requested for privateness all the way through their travel house and likewise requested for “prayers for the blameless civilians in Gaza, who gave them refuge, who helped them to find meals and water, however who proceed to be with out their very own provide of meals, water, gas, or medication to reside.”
All over their enjoy, Okal periodically despatched recordings to Nabulsi. The ones messages described the kinfolk’s reviews, together with working out of provides, witnessing airstrikes and in search of water.
As of Wednesday’s message, the kinfolk used to be nonetheless ready close to the border crossing with Okal’s sister and her 3 kids.”A complete of 40 other people in a single-family house that we have now been sheltering right here for a couple of weeks now,” Okal mentioned. Okal described listening to “bombs all evening” and an ongoing battle for elementary provides, together with water. He mentioned that for a number of consecutive days, they have been simplest ready to procure about 1 gallon of water for everybody in the home.In Wednesday’s recording, Okal described the start of border crossings as “a glimmer of hope for leaving the warfare zone and saving our lives.”
Complete remark from Okal kinfolk:”Abood Okal, Wafaa Abuzayda, and their one-year-old son Yousef Okal of Medway, Massachusetts, departed Gaza and crossed safely into Egypt during the Rafah Crossing in a while after 5:30 a.m. EST (11:30 a.m. native Gaza time) on November 2, 2023. They’re lately being transported to Cairo by means of United States Consular Affairs. The Okal Circle of relatives is beaten with the affection and reinforce they’ve won from house and in another country, however they’re additionally exhausted, bodily and emotionally tired, and feature an extended adventure forward of them again to the US. The Okal Circle of relatives expresses its private gratitude to their friends and family world wide, the Medway neighborhood, the media for sharing their plight and the plight of the loads of different American citizens trapped in Gaza, their elected officers who fought exhausting for his or her go back, and the State Division for offering them with secure departure. Right now, the Okal Circle of relatives asks for 3 issues: (1) privateness till they go back safely to their house in Medway, Massachusetts, (2) the speedy and secure departure of the rest Americans and their households in Gaza, and (3) compassion and prayers for the blameless civilians in Gaza, who gave them refuge, who helped them to find meals and water, however who proceed to be with out their very own provide of meals, water, gas, or medication to reside. Main points of the Okal Circle of relatives’s go back date to Medway don’t seem to be recognized right now.”
