President Biden 74 Americans
WASHINGTON – On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced that the United States has successfully facilitated the evacuation of 74 Americans from the Gaza Strip in the initial phase of operations. The Gaza Strip is under the control.
President Biden referred to the development as “good news” and shared the number with reporters before his bilateral meeting with President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic in the Oval Office.
According to John Kirby, a White House spokesperson on national security, in addition to the five Americans who left the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, there have been further evacuations taking place. These evacuees have departed from Gaza through its Egyptian border.
President Biden
Following an announcement by President Biden, evacuations have been implemented to facilitate the safe departure of injured Palestinians and foreign nationals from the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip. These efforts have been made possible by focused and timely American diplomacy in collaboration with regional partners.
During the Israel-Hamas conflict, around 400 U.S. citizens, along with their family members, have been attempting to depart from the Gaza Strip. The total count is nearly 1,000 people, as reported by the State Department.
However, the guidance provided by the U.S. government has been inconsistent, unreliable, and lacking clarity, as shared by family members of American citizens with Stubbynews TODAY.
U.S. Citizens
Kirby informed reporters on Wednesday that the Biden administration anticipates the safe evacuation of all U.S. citizens from Gaza, although the process may require some time.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken departed from Washington on Thursday and will visit Israel. During his visit, he is expected to urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to consider implementing “humanitarian pauses” to halt the conflict temporarily. These pauses would facilitate the safe delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of additional hostages held by Hamas.
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Palestinian Civilians
Before his departure, Blinken addressed reporters and highlighted the importance of taking necessary measures to safeguard civilians caught in the crossfire instigated by Hamas. He emphasized that Palestinian civilians have been disproportionately affected in recent days and reiterated the United States’ commitment to ensuring every possible effort is made to protect them.
During a private fundraiser on Thursday night, Biden disclosed that Netanyahu had agreed to a temporary cessation, resulting in the release of two American hostages held by Hamas on October 20. The hostages were Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie Raanan, from Evanston, Illinois.
Biden asserted, “I was the one who persuaded Bibi to initiate that cease-fire in order to secure the prisoners’ release.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which Hamas controls, the number of Palestinians killed has exceeded 9,000 since Israel declared war on Hamas in response to the Oct. 7 attack.