In the midst of an ongoing conflict in Gaza, Palestinian Americans find themselves trapped and desperate to leave the war-torn region. According to a report by BBC News, Folla Saqer and her two young children have been stranded in Gaza for nearly a month, anxiously awaiting the opportunity to return to the United States.

Saqer's husband, Ramiz Younis, nervously waits for news of their safe departure. The couple's children, two-year-old Zain and nine-month-old Zaina, hold American citizenship, while Saqer herself is a permanent legal resident. They are among approximately 1,000 people caught in limbo, waiting to cross into neighboring Egypt and begin their journey back to the US.

Although the children's names appeared on a list published by Gaza's border authority, granting them approval to leave the enclave on Thursday, Saqer was denied entry when she attempted to pass through the Rafah crossing. Justin Eisele, the family's lawyer, stated that no reason was provided for the denial but suggested that Saqer's immigration status as a permanent resident might have been the distinguishing factor.

Since Wednesday, foreign passport holders and injured Gazans have been permitted to cross through the Rafah crossing for the first time since the conflict started. However, the plight of Palestinian Americans, including Saqer and her children, continues to evoke frustration and anger as they struggle to find a way out of Gaza.

According to Eisele, Saqer was never informed that, as a green card holder, she would be unable to cross into Egypt. When her passage was blocked, she chose not to entrust her babies to a stranger. Frustrated, Eisele questioned the prioritization of priorities, stating, "Before we give Israel $15bn, could we take a minute to organize a mother crossing the border with her children?"

In response to the situation, the State Department declined to explain why Saqer was prevented from crossing the Rafah border. However, a spokesperson emphasized that the safety and security of US citizens overseas remain a top priority. The State Department assured that efforts to facilitate the evacuation of US citizens and their family members from Gaza would continue.

Mr. Younis, desperate to have his wife and children safely home, filed a federal lawsuit against the US government, accusing it of discrimination and failure to fulfill its obligations towards its citizens. The lawsuit names Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin as defendants, asserting that the family has been "let down and ignored as if we are second-class citizens."

Mr. Younis, who was born in Gaza but became a US citizen, returned to the enclave four years ago after marrying Saqer. The couple had recently relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, but Saqer's homesickness led her to take the children on a short trip to Gaza. The plan was for her to return to the US in mid-October, while Younis completed their move to Little Rock, Arkansas.

As the conflict erupted, Younis advised Saqer to travel to the Egyptian border and wait for an opportunity to cross. However, multiple attempts to leave proved unsuccessful, with the Rafah crossing opening briefly on several occasions but not allowing their passage. Saqer's sister's house in Rafah became their temporary shelter during this difficult time.

The Okal family, another group of Palestinian Americans trapped in Gaza, were included on the list of foreigners approved to leave the territory on Thursday. Abood Okal, Wafaa Abuzayda, and their one-year-old son, Yousef, had traveled to Gaza to introduce Yousef to his grandparents. However, Hamas' attack on Israel disrupted their plans, leaving the Okals desperately awaiting their chance to return to the safety of their home in suburban Massachusetts.

As the conflict in Gaza persists, Palestinian Americans like Saqer, the Okals, and others remain caught in the crossfire, hoping for a swift and safe resolution that will allow them to reunite with their loved ones in the United States.