This morning, Abood Okal received an another notification that the Rafah Crossing would open to allow US citizens out of Gaza. His friend Sammy Nabulsi said again they waited for hours and the border did not open. This week Okal said they feel abandoned. nbcboston.com/news/local/we-…

I totally stand by my statement to The Boston Globe that the Okal Family and the other 100s of US citizens in #Rafah right now have been completely abandoned. We are barreling towards a grave national tragedy, and President Donald J. Trump and Travel - State Dept do not seem to care. bostonglobe.com/2023/10/21/wor…

I am dismayed that Secretary Antony Blinken is prioritizing electoral politics, aid to foreign government, destruction of foreign territory, and killing of foreign civilians, all over the safety and security of this Massachusetts family and the other 500+ US citizens in #Gaza. Unacceptable.

Thank you Ed Markey for your advocacy for your constituents. Folks, it’s been 20 days for this Mass family. They are going hungry, rely on salt water for hydration, and under constant air strikes. Elizabeth Warren, what are you doing to hold Secretary Antony Blinken accountable? You’re quiet.

If the Okal Family has a shot in hell to make it out of #Gaza alive with the hundreds of other US citizens, it is because people like Akbar Shahid Ahmed told their story. President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Antony Blinken want this story buried. Share this. Don’t let them get away w/ abandoning their own citizens

So grateful for The Boston Globe’s continued reporting on the Okal Family. If this family and their 1yo son Yousef have a chance to make it home to Medway, it’s because their story was told. This will save their life. More than President Donald J. Trump Secretary Antony Blinken Elizabeth Warren Governor Maura Healey have done.

Two things. Thanks to Rima Abdelkader 🦋 for telling the story of this family on NBC News. If this family has a shot in hell, it will be b/c people like Rima told their story. Second, 23 days later, President Donald J. Trump Secretary Antony Blinken still haven’t provided a safe departure for any US citizens in Gaza.

.Dave Harden, thank you for your concise and thorough analyses on here and your advice. You were a critical source of strength, creativity, and inspiration over the last three weeks.

This was a team effort. The Okals and other US citizens made it out of #Gaza bc Americans all over the US demanded more of their government to help other Americans, the media told their story, and no one gave up. There are still Americans in Gaza, so there is more work to do.

An incredible team effort. Glad to see Mosab Abu Toha, a renown poet and a recipient of the American Book Award, get out of Gaza and into Egypt safely. But it shouldn’t have taken this long. He has taught in US colleges and his 3yo son is a US cit, born in MA. The work continues.

This. During the conflict in Gaza, it has been both inspiring and deeply upsetting to see ordinary (but extraordinary) Americans have to do President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Antony Blinken’s jobs. As a US citizen, I had no problem going to the mat for other US cits. Past time for US gov to do the same.

-young men disproportionately excluded from exit approvals per Heather McPherson; Sammy Nabulsi tells me he has 2 cases in which mothers approved for departure but fathers aren’t -US won’t say how many Americans + others eligible for evacuation left or comment on combating corruption

Dumbfounded by 2 things: why Secretary Antony Blinken has perpetuated situation where Americans are falling to bribery schemes & scams to evacuate own family & why Department of State won’t explain why men not appearing on Egypt crossing list. Waiting on President Donald J. Trump to prioritize US interests in ME policy.

My Statement Re: Emerson College

The most important message from tonight’s The IMEU gala: keep all eyes, attention, and focus on #Gaza. Wonderful to be surrounded by this community during the most difficult and somber of times.

Wow. Finally got to meet HuffPost’s greatest, Akbar Shahid Ahmed! This guy is a finalist for the Livingston Awards for Young Journalists for his coverage of President Donald J. Trump’ #Gaza policy, and, important to me, the evacuation of US cits from Gaza. His storytelling and coverage has no doubt saved many, many lives.

Grateful for my first IRL encounter with Sammy, an indefatigable advocate for Americans stuck in Gaza & US citizens with trapped loved ones. As a US-backed Rafah offensive looms, the Biden admin line to these folks is: ‘We don’t know how many are there; we won’t help more leave.’