Rep. Sara Jacobs Calls on State Department to Expand Resources for Palestinian Americans and Americans in Gaza, West Bank
Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) led 16 colleagues in urging the State Department to expand its resources for Palestinian Americans and Americans living, working, or traveling in Gaza and the West Bank. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the lawmakers urged the State Department to expand its guidance for Palestinian Americans and Americans in Gaza and the West Bank, ensure embassy staff fluent in Arabic are available to assist them, and publicize this information in an accessible manner.
The lawmakers wrote:
“Thank you for everything the Department of State is doing to help Americans impacted by the war in Israel. We are all devastated by Hamas’ horrific, inexcusable attacks, and all of the innocent civilians who have been kidnapped, killed, or trapped in the crossfire in Israel and Gaza.
“While we have received frequently updated resources for Americans in Israel, we write to express our concern about the lack of clear information available to our constituents and other Americans who are trying to leave Gaza and the West Bank. Many of them are unclear about what services the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem is providing to help Palestinian Americans and American citizens living, working, and traveling in Gaza and the West Bank.
“As the United States Government works with regional partners to help provide safe passage for civilians to leave the region, we request the Department make efforts to expand their guidance to include additional details pertinent to Palestinian Americans and American citizens in Gaza and the West Bank, ensure embassy staff fluent in Arabic are available to assist them, and publicize this information in an accessible manner.
“Thank you for your urgent attention to this vitally important matter.”
In addition to Rep. Sara Jacobs, Reps. Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Greg Casar (TX-35), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), and Seth Magaziner (RI-02) signed this letter.
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