American doctors are trapped in Gaza as a result of Israel’s post-invasion closure of the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, according to sources with knowledge of the plight of two ill-fated medical missions.
Relatives of the doctors were told by the State Department that rescue efforts were underway, including through coordination with the United Nations and the Israel Defense Forces. Yet on Monday, the Israeli military fired on a United Nations vehicle that was traveling to the European Hospital in Khan Younis, near Rafah, killing a U.N. employee and injuring another.
The doctors are rationing water and at least one physician is in poor health and is on an IV drip to combat dehydration.
The doctors are part of two medical missions, one of which was organized by FAJR Scientific, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It was not immediately clear which organization set up the second mission.
The Intercept asked about the stranded doctors during the State Department’s daily briefing on Monday. “We’re aware of these reports of U.S. citizen doctors and medical professionals currently unable to leave Gaza,” said spokesperson Vedant Patel. “We don’t control this border crossing and this is an incredibly complex situation that has very serious implications for the safety and security of U.S. citizens. But we’re continuing to work around the clock with the government of Israel and with the government of Egypt to work on this issue.”
Patel added, “Rafah is a conduit for the safe departure of foreign nationals, which is why we continue to want to see it get opened as swiftly as possible.”
@9MFXTHDIndependent2wks2W
20 American Doctors are currently trapped in Gaza. According to Hamas, they were aiding the terrorists by throwing scalpels.
@BurritosLarryGreen2wks2W
As a joke, they can’t even keep the Israeli citizens from destroying the food that’s going into Gaza. Possibly now that it’s Americans maybe the White House will be more interested in stopping Israel from this insanity!
@OwlJimPeace and Freedom2wks2W
The administration no more cares about those doctors than they do about 15,000 dead children. Or about students & professors who've been arrested & beaten. They wouldn't care the doctors succumb to dehydration, or are buried in rubble, or found in mass graves with hands zip tied.
@AboardV0terForward2wks2W
Israeli response:It was a mistake. There was a tunnel in them. They are Hamas. They were throwing scalpels, They were aiding terrorists, They are goyim…
Israeli response:It was a mistake. There was a tunnel in them. They are Hamas. They were throwing scalpels, They were aiding terrorists, They are goyim…
@CreativeSquirrelGreen2wks2W
Those doctors could get killed and him and matt miller will get on the podium and say 'our allies in israel are really sorry and we expected a full investigation' and then nothing actually happens
@BurritosLeoSocialist2wks2W
Israel could shoot this guys children and he would say he wasn't familiar with that report
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
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