A lucky few are leaving Gaza. Others are forced to return

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

We are co-hosting this program from different locations around the Mideast this week to hear different perspectives on the war here. On Monday, we were in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, where Hamas rockets sometimes strike. On Wednesday, we reported from Ramallah on the occupied West Bank. Today we are in Jerusalem, which Israel claims as its capital, though the city's status, like so much else, is disputed. From each location, we have turned toward the war zone in Gaza. And as this week ends, we can report that some people are getting out. NPR's Daniel Estrin has been following this all night. And he joins me this morning. Hey there, Daniel.

DANIEL ESTRIN, BYLINE: Hi, Steve.

INSKEEP: I guess we should just reset the map for people. Israel has blocked the land exits from Gaza. They are the dominant power on three sides. That leaves a crossing on a little bit of border with Egypt. What's happening there?

ESTRIN: Well, yeah, that's Gaza's only portal right now to the outside world. And Egypt has opened that portal, its border crossing, today for a third day in a row. The vast majority of Gazans will not get to cross and not get to leave. But this is only open to the lucky few. A few hundred in Gaza are being allowed to leave every day - international aid workers, Palestinians with foreign nationalities, Palestinians with connections to foreign countries and foreign employers. Our colleague, NPR producer Anas Baba, has been there on the ground at the border crossing every day that it's been open. Here's what he told me he saw in the first day.

ANAS BABA, BYLINE: It was totally unbelievable. There was only a list that holds 400 names. We sure witnessed at least 1,500 people just struggling and begging for anyone just to make them cross for - to save their own lives.

INSKEEP: A very real concern, since Israel's bombardment continues. So who decides, Daniel, who gets on the list?

ESTRIN: Well, there's a daily list published who gets to travel that day. It's published every night. It's posted on Facebook by the Hamas administration in Gaza. But you can see a Hebrew word, unclassified, at the top. So it appears that Israel is vetting the names here. And yesterday, Palestinian Americans appeared on this list for the very first time. And when our producer went there to see them at the border, he described scenes that are just excruciating - people leaving someone behind, families torn apart. He met an 8-year-old boy from New Jersey who was visiting his grandparents in Gaza when this war broke out. And now he was getting to go back home but leaving his grandparents behind. And here is our producer Anas Baba speaking to that 8-year-old, Iyad Okal (ph).

BABA: What do you want to say to all the children around the world about Gaza?

IYAD OKAL: That they need to get out of Palestine as soon as possible.

ESTRIN: He also met a woman, Wafaa Assaka (ph), who moved to America years ago. She lives in Tallahassee, Fla. We've been following her story throughout the war. And she finally appeared on the list to be able to go.

WAFAA ASSAKA: It's mixed feelings. I'm leaving behind my loved ones, my dad, my mom, my family. But I have to go to my other family - my husband, my son, my grandson. I think God has his point. I don't know what it is. But this is the taxes of going abroad, I guess, and get education and look for a better life. So it's not that I'm sad. I'm not sad. I'm thankful I'm able to go back home.

ESTRIN: And when she returns to the U.S...

ASSAKA: I'm going to take a long shower or long bath because for the past 25 days, I didn't take any. And then be with my family, love them more and more and just pray. I told God to take care of the rest of my family because I can't do anything anymore.

ESTRIN: So those are some of the voices we heard yesterday. Now, today's list was published around 2:30 a.m. here. Nearly 600 people are on that list, more Palestinian Americans, people from other countries. Anas Baba went back to the border, met a pharmacist, Sam Salouha (ph). He was sending away his young kids, and he's staying behind to take care of his ill dad. And here is what he wants people listening to his voice to know.

SAM SALOUHA: I want you to be lucky and cherish everything. When you go to the bathroom and flush, you know, cherish that moment because we don't have that option. If you eat bread and if you use a microwave, you are lucky to have that option.

INSKEEP: Some of the voices of people getting out of Gaza. But, Daniel, as you've underlined, most people stay in. What does Gaza look like now?

ESTRIN: Well, as of last night, the Israeli army says its troops are now surrounding Gaza City, where Israel says Hamas is headquartered. There are still civilians there trapped in that besieged city, people I've spoken to and some who are even meant to be traveling out of Gaza today. But it's very dangerous to get out from that city. And I should tell you about something else extraordinary, Steve. A few hundred people are being allowed to escape the war zone today, but Israel is sending into Gaza thousands of people into that war zone for the very first time, thousands of Gaza laborers who were working in Israel when the war broke out. They were rounded up by Israel, detained. And our producer saw throngs of them, thousands walking into Gaza by foot. They were dropped off by an Israeli bus. One of them was even wearing a bright orange Israeli prison jumpsuit.

INSKEEP: Wow.

(SOUNDBITE OF VIDEO)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Non-English language spoken).

ESTRIN: This is a video that our producer filmed. He saw him walking into Gaza, saying, I'm coming from death, and I'm going to death. And last night, Israel's Security Cabinet announced that it's severing all contact with Gaza. Israel is sending home all those Gazan workers who were trapped in Israel on the day of the war.

INSKEEP: Israel's policy for a while had been to economically cooperate with Gaza. Obviously, that's at an end. Daniel, thanks so much.

ESTRIN: You're welcome.

INSKEEP: Now, this week's opening of the border crossing affected a Massachusetts family we've heard in days past here on MORNING EDITION. Abood Okal and his wife, Wafaa Abuzayda, have a small child, and they spoke with us while the gates were closed.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

WAFAA ABUZAYDA: Please, please save us. Please. I have a 1 1/2 year. I got him after six times of IVF. Please save us. Please.

INSKEEP: Since the start of the war, they repeatedly brought their 1-year-old to the border crossing and repeatedly were turned away until yesterday. Excuse me. They crossed to Egypt. Their attorney released a statement saying they're exhausted and drained and thinking of family members still inside. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.