US Medical Professionals, Including Arizona Nurse, Stranded in Gaza
TL/DR –
Eleven US medical professionals are reportedly stuck in Gaza after their two-week medical mission. The doctors and nurses travelled to the region with Rahma Worldwide, a humanitarian rights organisation, and were due to leave this past week. After a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas ran into issues, the Israeli military blocked access to Northern Gaza and the medical professionals have been unable to leave.
U.S. Medical Team Stranded in Gaza
An Arizona nurse along with ten other U.S. medical professionals have reported being stranded in Gaza after their two-week humanitarian mission with Rahma Worldwide. They arrived in the war-torn region on January 9 and were scheduled to return last week.
“As a healthcare worker, it’s my duty to respond to the most critical needs,” explained Dr. Shehzad Batliwala, one of the team members stuck in Gaza. The group, including Arizona-based nurse Nor Rizek, has had their requests to leave denied.
“Despite arriving during an active conflict as a special delegation assisted by the Israeli Defense Forces and World Health Organization, we’re now caught up in political affairs which shouldn’t really concern us. We are a humanitarian organization,” expressed Dr. Batliwala.
In January, a ceasefire was brokered between Israel and Hamas. However, when Israel claimed Hamas breached the agreement by not releasing all hostages, access to Northern Gaza was blocked by the Israeli military.
Medical support continues to be an urgent requirement in Gaza. “Our next delegation was to bring medical supplies and aid, but now that won’t be happening,” informed Dr. Batliwala.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a statement, urging the Trump administration to demand the Israeli government allow the stranded U.S. medical professionals to return home safely. “These American citizens risked their lives to provide critical medical care in Gaza and now are being prevented from returning home by the same government responsible for bombing hospitals and the slaughter of civilians. We call upon the Trump administration to force the Israeli government to let these doctors return home safely. Our citizens cannot be held hostage by a foreign government,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.
On Sunday, news emerged of an agreement permitting Palestinians to return to northern Gaza and the release of an Israeli hostage.
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