The Biden administration is working tirelessly to evacuate U.S. doctors from Gaza as the conflict in the region escalates, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced on Wednesday. A group of American doctors from the Palestinian American Medical Association found themselves stranded in Gaza after Israel closed the border crossing in Rafah.
“We’re closely monitoring the situation and are actively working to safely evacuate the affected American citizens from Gaza,” Jean-Pierre stated. The United States is in direct communication with Israel to facilitate the evacuation process.
Despite warnings against a major military ground operation in Rafah, the Biden administration remains focused on getting the doctors out of Gaza. “We need to get them out. We want to get them out and it has nothing to do with anything else,” Jean-Pierre emphasized.
Israeli troops engaged in intense battles with militants across Gaza, including in Rafah, a previously safe haven for civilians. The ongoing conflict, which has lasted over seven months, has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians and has severely strained Gaza’s healthcare system.
The closure of key border crossings into Gaza has raised concerns among humanitarian workers, who fear that aid operations could come to a standstill. The Israeli assault on Gaza has led to the destruction of hospitals and the loss of life among health workers.
The Biden administration’s efforts to evacuate U.S. doctors from Gaza underscore the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in the region as the conflict continues to escalate.