Israel at war: Aussie family trapped in Gaza: Get us out … people are dying
A young family in Gaza claiming to be Australian has pleaded with the Australian government to ‘do something … and get us out’ as they wait at the border crossing to Egypt.
A young family in Gaza claiming to be Australian has pleaded with the Australian government to “do something … and get us out” as they wait at the border crossing to Egypt, where “people are dying everywhere”.
The unidentified family, believed to be among 45 Australians in Gaza, told Al Jazeera they had gone to the Rafah border post multiple times on the instruction of Australian officials, but had been unable to escape the Palestinian enclave.
Family members, staying with relatives about 9km from the crossing point, said they were struggling to find food and water amid chaos on the ground caused by relentless Israeli airstrikes.
“The bombing is all around us. People are dying everywhere … It’s very hard. Nothing is available; no electricity, no water, no internet. Nothing that supports life,” the man said in Arabic.
“We are asking the Australian embassy to … get us out of here.”
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles confirmed on Tuesday that 45 Australians were stuck in Gaza, more than double what had originally been thought. He said it would be difficult to get them out as the area was “volatile and changeable” and a humanitarian corridor was yet to be established.
The Rafah crossing has been closed until further notice.
“Their situation is obviously extremely difficult … We are doing what we can in very challenging circumstances,” he told ABC News Breakfast.
The unnamed man told Al Jazeera’s 24-hour live news program, as small children circled at his feet, that that day was particularly difficult. “We keep going to the border; the Australian embassy keeps telling us to be there at 9am. We arrive to the border at 8am and nothing happens.”
“Today we went to the border. It was closed. (The Australian embassy) are saying there are negotiations happening, there are other things happening. It is useless.
“We don’t know what to do with ourselves now. Today we could come to the border. Tomorrow we may not (be able to) … There are no cars to get us in. It is very difficult to commute. When we come and go, it is very difficult.”
They travelled to Gaza in August and, until war broke out, had planned to stay until November.
Palestinian delegation in Canberra representative Izzat Abdulhadi said the Rafah crossing had been repeatedly bombed by Israeli airstrikes, leaving Australian families in “fearful uncertainty”.
“The Palestinian community in Australia, especially those originally from Gaza, have huge concerns regarding the fates of their loved ones in Gaza, and are asking the government (to) ensure the safe repatriation of their relatives as soon as possible,” he said.
The young mother in the video told Al Jazeera she couldn’t contact her family in Australia because there was no phone connection and her parents were “terrified” for her and her children.
“This is the first time their daughter has been in Gaza, in such a situation,” she said.
She said the last six days had been “the hardest thing”. “This is the second time we have travelled to the border. It is dangerous and we are scared,” she said.
“It is the first time I have seen a war and it is the hardest war. Every day I wish we could stay alive. We sleep with our hand on our hearts. I have a husband and children and everyday we put our souls in the hand of God. It is very scary.”
She said her small daughter was “very, very scared” and cried at every noise. “This is the first time she has experienced this; I don’t wish anyone to go through this.”
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