WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is considering steps to help Palestinians living in the United States who want to bring their families from the war-torn region.
“We are constantly evaluating policy proposals to further support Palestinians who are family members of U.S. citizens and who may wish to come to the United States,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean said Wednesday. -Rock.
Jean-Pierre said discussions were underway but did not have further details on how the procedures might work. The new measures would help those who are legal permanent residents or U.S. citizens and have family in the area.
It is currently difficult for anyone to leave the Gaza Strip as the war between Israel and Hamas continues, and more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health authorities, around two-thirds of whom are children and adults. women.
The discussion comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Israel would launch a major military operation in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, even as the Biden administration warned that such action would be catastrophic.
An estimated 1.5 million people, more than half of Gaza, have sought refuge in Rafah as the war shows no signs of ending.
If the United States were to take action to help the families of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, it would likely require coordination with Egypt. Early in the war, hundreds of Americans – as well as other foreign nationals stuck in Gaza – were able to escape through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, which opened the crossing with some trepidation.
Egypt and other Arab countries fear that an Israeli offensive could lead to a displacement of Palestinians towards the Sinai, a scenario it considers unacceptable.
For Palestinians already in the United States, the Biden administration has already agreed to what is known as “delayed forced departure,” an authority used at the president’s discretion.
The directive signed by Biden last month effectively allows Palestinian immigrants who would otherwise have to leave the United States to remain without threat of deportation for at least 18 months.
___
Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.
