(WWJ) – The family of a Metro Detroit couple who is stuck in Gaza after traveling to visit relatives last month is pleading for help from the U.S. Government.
During a press conference on Saturday in Detroit, officials with the Arab American Civil Rights League and the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee called for help bringing home not just Zakaria and Laila Alarayshi of Livonia, but all U.S. citizens stuck in Gaza.
Israel has declared war on Palestine after Hamas – identified by the U.S. Government as a terrorist organization – launched attacks that killed over 1,000 people in Israel last weekend. In retaliation, Israel’s military bombarded Gaza, leaving thousands more dead.
The two organizations announced Saturday they have filed a lawsuit against the State Department and the Department of Defense.
In the week since the violence broke out, many Americans who were in Israel have returned home, but Nasser Beydoun, former Chairman of the Arab American Civil Rights League, said Saturday the U.S. Government hasn’t done enough to help those stranded in Gaza.
"Get our citizens out of Gaza as you have done in Israel; an Israeli American life is not more valuable than a Palestinian-American," Beydoun said, according to a report from Fox 2.
“The State Department has a duty to ensure that the U.S. Citizens are protected abroad. Credible reports have shown that the State Department has thus far not engaged in evacuation efforts to safely evacuate US citizens that are currently in the besieged Gaza Strip,” a press release from the ADC and ACRL says.
The lawsuit accuses the U.S. Government of “unconstitutionally discriminating against Palestinian-Americans by not securing their safety and well-being,” claiming their inaction is “especially problematic when juxtaposed with its chartering of flights to assist Israeli Americans escape.”
In response, the State Department released the following statement, according to Fox 2’s report:
"As a general matter, we do not comment on ongoing or pending litigation. The U.S. government is working to secure the safe exit of U.S. citizens from Gaza. We have informed U.S. citizens in Gaza with whom we are in contact that if they assess it to be safe, they may wish to move closer to the Rafah border crossing - there may be very little notice if the crossing opens and it may only open for a limited time. We will continue to be in touch with private U.S. citizens to determine what assistance we may be able to provide. U.S. citizens who need assistance should complete the online crisis intake form on travel.state.gov."