Waiting in Anguish: Heart-wrenching Tales of American Families Separated by the Conflict in Israel and Gaza

Dr. Aref Abou-Amro, a 59-year-old cardiologist in Columbus, Ohio, secluded himself in his office, overcome with emotion as he anxiously anticipated updates on his siblings and a large portion of his extended family who were enduring the relentless airstrikes in Gaza.

"The amount of devastation and suffering is overwhelming," expressed Dr. Abou-Amro. "It has become unbearable."

In Austin, Texas, a 47-year-old event production manager has mounted a one-man media campaign to try to find to find his aunt, his cousin and her two daughters, ages 2 and 4.

Palestinians in Gaza City flee with their belongings to seek safety as Israeli air strikes intensify on October 13, 2023. In response to Hamas's attacks, Israel is urgently urging the relocation of 1.1 million individuals in Gaza, resulting in the United Nations issuing a warning of dire consequences. (Photo credit: MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel issues warning of a new stage in the conflict against Hamas, as civilians evacuate Gaza and Israeli military assembles near the border. Upon viewing an online video, he was taken aback by the sight of women and girls being abducted by militants during this unprecedented Hamas operation, which rapidly evolved into the most lethal assault on Israel in half a century.

"It is difficult to fall asleep unless one is completely exhausted," stated Dori Roberts. "However, our objective is to ensure their narrative stays relevant... until the day we hopefully discover they are liberated and reunited with their families."

Both Israelis and Palestinians have had their worlds turned upside down in a short span of time. Not only for them, but also for worried relatives throughout the United States, a dreadful new reality is beginning to sink in: a feeling of imminent destruction, grief, and an unpredictable future.

"Were walking on that very thin line between madness and sanity… Its been a very hard, emotional journey," Roberts said.

This is only the beginning

It has been a week since Hamas carried out a devastating attack on Israel, resulting in the death of over 1,300 individuals and the abduction of both civilians and military personnel who are currently believed to be held captive in Gaza. This unexpected assault witnessed numerous heavily armed Hamas fighters wreaking havoc in rural Israeli towns, kibbutzim, and army bases, with over 100 individuals being taken hostage by the militants.

A plume of smoke rises in the sky over Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday.

Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

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Israel retaliated by imposing a full-scale blockade on Gaza, encompassing provisions such as food, water, and fuel. Additionally, they unleashed the most intense series of airstrikes ever conducted on the besieged territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared this as merely the initial phase, vowing to eradicate Hamas.

The Israel Defense Forces issued a warning to over 1 million northern Gaza residents, urging them to evacuate due to ongoing airstrikes. They mobilized troops and military equipment at the border, while the relentless airstrikes continued. In the past week of fighting, over 400,000 Palestinians had already been displaced within the territory.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza from Israeli strikes has reached 2,215 as of Saturday. Shockingly, this toll includes 724 children. The situation has become so dire that a Gaza hospital had to resort to using ice cream trucks as makeshift morgues to accommodate the growing number of bodies.

Sleepless nights, thousands of miles away

Aref Abou-Amro, in the center back with his arms over sisters, and the rest of the family, including many nephews and nieces, who are trapped in Gaza.

Courtesy Aref Abou-Amro

Thousands of miles away in Ohio, Abou-Amro expressed his sorrow as he witnessed the deteriorating conditions faced by his loved ones. This included his three sisters and a brother, who is an American citizen. He recounted that one of his sisters had been advised three times to relocate due to Israeli shelling, only to be forced to move again when she believed she had found a safe place. Currently, his sister, 80-year-old brother, and approximately 400 others have sought refuge at a family property in Al-Zawida, a village located about 10 miles south of Gaza City. Meanwhile, additional relatives are taking shelter in different places. Abou-Amro shared his experience of watching news coverage on television and scrolling through web pages.

Palestinians who fled their houses amid Israeli strikes shelter at a United Nations-run school in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday.

Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

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"We witness these images, unimaginably painful. Then, in my office, I simply weep and contemplate these children, and then my own children - overwhelmed by sorrow," expressed Abou-Amro, an American citizen who departed Gaza in 1982 and relocated to the United States in 1991. "Previous wars have occurred in Gaza, but nothing compares to this. This is unprecedented."

Abou-Amro and others recounted restless nights marked by weary, red eyes due to exhaustion and anxiety. They depicted the anguish that follows each unsuccessful endeavor to contact their loved ones.

"I had a few patients to attend to when my manager approached me... and he remarked, 'You appear exhausted. How can I assist you?' For me, that level of support suffices. I personally find it more manageable to put in extra effort at work rather than sitting idly and watching the news," he expressed.

Come Friday, he briefly closed the door to his office and allowed himself to shed some tears.

Communication is rare – and brief

In Chicago, Yahia Abuhashem, a 34-year-old health care data scientist, constantly worries about his parents, four siblings, and 12 nephews and nieces who reside in Gaza. According to Abuhashem, it has been an extremely challenging week for both him and his family. Having immigrated to the US 15 years ago and obtained a PhD in applied economics, he confesses that he hasn't had a good night's sleep or been able to focus on his work. Each new day brings even greater hardships and unimaginable circumstances.

His relatives are now scattered in three different neighborhoods in Gaza.

A Messenger mobile app displayed on a smartphone screen alongside that of Facebook, Instagram, X, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, on August 15, 2023.

Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Abuhashem shared, "In light of the Israel-Hamas conflict, my sister and her children sought refuge with my other sister, resulting in a total of five to six kids under one roof. Additionally, one of my brothers offered shelter to our father, while my other brother took care of our mother. It is worth noting that both of our parents are 70 years old."

Tracking their location is difficult, he explained, due to inconsistent communication. Abuhashem mentioned that he often spends several hours attempting to get in touch with them, only to have brief conversations to conserve phone battery.

"It's simply a matter of asking, 'Are you all alive?' and that's about it," he stated. "Survival is the best we can hope for at the moment. There's no time to inquire about whether my mom has her medication or if she has enough batteries for her hearing aid."

Abuhashem, a newly naturalized US citizen, expressed his perpetual state of anxiety with his heart consistently pounding, as if on the verge of exploding.

"I haven't been able to focus on my five-month-old daughter since Friday night. Each time I catch a glimpse of her, my emotions overwhelm me. My mind immediately conjures up distressing images of infants torn apart."

Loved ones mission to bring them back home

Doron Katz Asher

Courtesy Dori Roberts

Raz Asher

Courtesy Dori Roberts

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Aviv Asher

Courtesy Dori Roberts

In the video, Roberts described his aunt's expression as a mix of horror, confusion, and shock.

Roberts mentioned that his aunts' partner, who is 79 years old, and another family member were also held hostage. Roberts expressed how constantly wondering about their whereabouts, well-being, and the hardships they may be facing can be extremely distressing.

You wake up haunted by nightmares, their face constantly haunting your thoughts. You desperately try to avoid the videos that keep appearing on social media.

According to Roberts, a few months ago, he was in Israel to attend his mother's funeral. During this challenging time, his aunt, cousin, the two girls, and other relatives stood by his side, offering their unwavering support.

"I discuss the situation with my loved ones, my two daughters, and we are currently comprehending the enormity of this issue. It is incredibly daunting," stated Roberts, who has dedicated countless hours addressing various media platforms regarding his family and the remaining hostages. "Our primary objective at this moment is to safely reunite them with their homes."

Despair, horror, helplessness

Jason Greenberg, hailing from Massachusetts, vividly remembers his recent visit to Israel, where he had the pleasure of reuniting with his father, sister, and other loved ones. However, his peaceful slumber was abruptly disrupted when he woke up to the piercing sound of sirens emanating from the vicinity just north of Tel Aviv.

As the Saturday morning progressed, a rapid exchange of text messages ensued between Greenberg's aunt, Carmela Dan, and her children.

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Carmela Dan

Courtesy Jason Greenberg

Dan, 80, her 50-year-old son-in-law and three of her grandchildren - ages 12 to 16 - had taken shelter in their home in Nir Oz just a few miles from the border with Gaza.

"They had gone to their shelter and their safe room and that they heard gunfire, and they heard shouting. And … they smelled smoke," Greenberg said of the messages.

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Antony Blinken, left, and Lloyd Austin.

AP/Getty Images

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One last message read: "We hear them. Theyre coming."

The family's house was intentionally set on fire, according to Greenberg. Subsequently, they were held captive.

At some unspecified moment, his aunt and four cousins, whom originated from the same family, ceased communication within the family's WhatsApp group. Following that, a video lasting 22 seconds emerged, revealing the kidnapping of his 12-year-old cousin committed by Hamas.

Greenberg said that the mother of the children was absent from the family during that time.

In light of the escalating situation in Israel, Greenberg was able to arrange a flight to Rome early the following morning. Accompanied by his 79-year-old father, who holds dual US-Israeli citizenship, he traveled to Massachusetts.

"Despair, horror, and helplessness," Greenberg expressed his emotions upon discovering the destiny of his relatives.

"I genuinely wish I could convey any glimmer of hope or optimism, but unfortunately, that is not the reality. Right from the beginning, I struggled to find any silver lining or foresee a favorable outcome for them."