Massachusetts family awaits chance to leave Gaza, as aid trucks cross the border from Egypt

As aid trucks moved over the Rafah border crossing Saturday, into Gaza, a Massachusetts family trapped in the enclave was said to be in communication with U.S. officials, raising hope that they might be able to cross into Egypt.

According to a friend of the family, Boston attorney Sammy Nabulsi, the State Department has told the couple that the Rafah crossing would open and asked the family to alert the department once they made it over the border. After waiting at the crossing for several hours Saturday, the border has remained closed so far.

"This family, and I'm sure the other hundreds of American citizens in Rafah right now, feel completely abandoned by their government," Nabulsi said in a text exchange with WBUR Saturday.

Nabulsi's friends — Abood Okal and his wife Wafaa Abuzayda of Medway — have been trying to leave Gaza since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. For the past week, the couple have been staying near the Rafah crossing, after Israel ordered an evacuation of citizens in northern Gaza. The State Department said American citizens would be allowed to cross the border, but the couple and their year-old son have at least three times traveled to the border, only to be turned away.

Nabulsi said he has limited contact with his friends because they have spotty wifi and power. But on Friday they messaged him saying they had run out of clean water, and the bombings had increased and were coming closer.

"Abood told me in a message that there was nonstop bombing last night and early this morning," Nabulsi said. "We are barreling toward the incomprehensible: that U.S. weapons, paid for with U.S. taxpayer dollars, will be used to potentially harm, or even kill, U.S. citizens."

The State Department said it is working to get American citizens out of Gaza. In an emailed statement this week, the State Department said it is "making every effort to persuade responsible parties to open the Rafah crossing." The department encouraged Americans in Gaza to closely monitor the situation, saying "there may be very little notice if the crossing opens and it may only open for a limited time."

Between 400 and 600 Palestinian Americans are estimated to be in Gaza, amid increasingly dire conditions, as supplies of food, fuel and medicines dwindle. A convoy of 20 trucks carrying aid moved through the border Saturday, according to the United Nations.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke at a press conference Friday after Hamas released two American hostages.  He said getting assistance to Gaza is a priority and that he has been working with authorities from Egypt and Israel.

Nabulsi said he has been contacting the State Department, the White House and members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, urging them to help his friends.

"I'm sitting here banging my head trying to figure out what to do next," Nabulsi said.