SUGAR LAND, Texas — As Israel prepares for a ground offensive into Gaza to retaliate against attacks by Hamas, the U.S. State Department estimates as many as 600 Americans remain stuck in the Palestinian territory.
One Palestinian-American woman from Sugar Land tells KHOU that includes her mother and sister.
“I was speaking to a friend yesterday, and I told her, ‘I feel like I’m in my own personal hell,’” said Mai Abushahban, 22.
She added, “So many questions, so much fear and anxiety, and it’s just insanely overwhelming. I would not wish this upon my worst enemy.”
Abushahban said her mother and younger sister, who she asked KHOU not to name or show because of safety concerns, went to Gaza in August to visit her sick grandfather. The two U.S. citizens were supposed to return by the end of October but are now stuck in the Palestinian territory with inconsistent phone service, internet, and power.
“Sometimes I was able to get through to them, and sometimes I wasn’t,” she said. “In those moments where I wasn’t, it was just very stressful not knowing why I’m unable to get through to them.”
After Israel dropped leaflets warning people in Northern Gaza to evacuate, Abushahban said her family headed south. However, she says there’s still danger in southern Gaza.
Abushahban said her family and hundreds of others headed to Gaza’s border with Egypt after notices from the U.S. government that it could open on Saturday and Monday. However, that never happened. Now Abushahban said her mom and sister are staying with their friend and others, waiting for a chance to leave.
“I can’t imagine what our family’s going through, and I know it’s going to affect our family in the long run,” she said.
Abushahban is urging people to contact their representatives in Congress to let them know there are Americans stuck in Gaza.
On Tuesday afternoon, KHOU reached out to the U.S. State Department for more information about this family’s situation and when Americans in Gaza might be able to leave. No response has been received yet.