The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its Greater Los Angeles Area office (CAIR-LA) today called on the Trump administration to demand that the Israeli government allow 11 American medical professionals trapped in Gaza to leave the region and to ensure their safe return home.
A group of American doctors and nurses volunteering on a medical mission to Gaza have been prevented by the Israeli government from departing from Gaza as planned. The group was scheduled to leave yesterday, Jan. 23, through the Karam Abu Salem crossing but was prevented by Israeli forces.
The medical professionals’ names are Dr. Nimr Ikram (Texas), Dr. Omair Ilyas (California), Dr. Aslam Akhtar (California), Dr. Tarik Elmohd (Florida), Dr. Mohamed Saleh (Colorado), Dr. Sameer Ahmad (California), Dr. Omar Malas (Ohio), Dr. Asad Khan (Texas), Nurse Nor Rizek (Arizona), Nurse Marie Zhang (Ohio), and Dr. Shehzad Batliwala (Texas).
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“These American citizens, who risked their lives to help provide critical medical care to civilians in Gaza, are being prevented from returning home by the same government responsible for the repeated bombing of hospitals and the slaughter of those same civilians. We urge the Trump administration to take immediate action to force the Israeli government to allow these doctors to return home safely. American citizens cannot be held hostage by a rogue foreign government.”
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“Our government is responsible for prioritizing the safety of its citizens, and we urgently call on the Trump administration to immediately take action to ensure the 11 American doctors and nurses currently trapped in Gaza by Israeli forces are allowed to leave and return to the U.S. It is unconscionable that they are being held in harm’s way by a foreign government that has crossed every line of morality.
“The need for medical assistance in Gaza is dire, and these medical workers have greatly risked their safety to provide urgently needed care to tens of thousands of Palestinians—a majority of whom are women, children, and the elderly—who are suffering extreme sickness and injury after 15 months of Israel’s genocidal violence. After weeks of working under extreme conditions to provide lifesaving care, being prevented from returning home as scheduled has taken a significant emotional toll on them and their loved ones.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: Dr. Omar Malas, 517-290-5210; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, (4040 285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, (202) 742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, (202) 744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, (202) 770-6280, iallison@cair.com; CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com