- Nine Palestinian Americans have filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, claiming the Biden administration abandoned them in the war-torn Gaza Strip, discriminating against Americans of Palestinian origin.
- The plaintiffs, represented by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and attorney Maria Kari, argue the U.S. government violated their constitutional right to equal protection by failing to evacuate them similarly to other Americans in conflict zones.
- The lawsuit highlights the U.S. government’s failure to provide standard evacuation efforts, allowing only immediate family members of U.S. citizens under 21 to evacuate, despite approving the evacuation of over 1,600 Palestinians.
- The plaintiffs point to other instances where the U.S. evacuated its citizens from conflict zones, such as Afghanistan in 2021, Lebanon in 2006, Sudan in 2023, and Libya in 2011, to emphasize the discriminatory treatment in Gaza.
- The lawsuit calls for a declaration that the U.S. government failed to protect and evacuate Americans in Gaza, immediate evacuation of the plaintiffs and their families, and reimbursement of legal costs, highlighting the need for equal protection and inclusive response to citizens in conflict zones.
In a landmark lawsuit filed on Thursday, Dec. 19, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, nine Palestinian Americans have accused the Biden administration of abandoning their families and themselves in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
The plaintiffs, represented by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and attorney Maria Kari, argue that the U.S. government has discriminated against Americans of Palestinian origin by failing to evacuate them in the same manner as other Americans in conflict zones.
The lawsuit, which names outgoing President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as defendants, alleges that the U.S. government violated the plaintiffs’ constitutional right to equal protection.
The complaint highlights the U.S. government's failure to provide the standard evacuation efforts that would typically be extended to Americans of different backgrounds facing similar circumstances.
The plaintiffs –who include legal citizens, permanent residents, and their family members – detail their experiences navigating the challenging and discriminatory process set forth by the U.S. State Department. (Related: Israeli airstrike kills an American in southern Lebanon, thanks to Biden’s inability to quickly evacuate U.S. citizens.)
State Department approved the evacuation of more than 1,600 Palestinians, but under strict criteria
According to the lawsuit, the State Department had approved the evacuation of more than 1,600 Palestinians, including U.S. citizens and their family members, but these efforts were limited to specific criteria, such as only allowing immediate family members of U.S. citizens who are under 21 years old to evacuate.
Kari emphasized the urgency of the situation: "The law requires the U.S. government to protect Americans wherever they may be. With every passing day, the danger of our clients dying from Israeli bombardment or the starvation and disease now rampant in Gaza only goes up."
The lawsuit also points to similar instances where the U.S. government actively evacuated its citizens from other conflict zones, such as Afghanistan in 2021, Lebanon in 2006, Sudan in 2023, and Libya in 2011.
The plaintiffs argue that the U.S. government’s failure to extend similar evacuation efforts to Palestinian Americans has created a two-tier system that sends a clear signal about the prioritization of its citizens.
In response to the lawsuit, a State Department spokesperson stated that the safety and security of American citizens around the world is a "top priority" but did not comment further on the pending litigation.
This lawsuit follows another recent legal action filed by Palestinian families, who sued the State Department on Tuesday, Dec. 17, over Washington's support for Israel’s military in the ongoing conflict.
Both lawsuits highlight the urgent need for the U.S. government to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ensure that all Americans receive equal protection and evacuation support regardless of their background.
The ongoing Israeli war on Gaza has claimed over 45,000 lives, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and has sparked international outrage over potential war crimes and genocide.
The conflict was triggered on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of about 251 hostages.
As the situation in Gaza continues, the plaintiffs and their advocates urge immediate action from the U.S. government to evacuate citizens and their families at risk.
The lawsuit calls for a declaration that the U.S. government has failed to fulfill its constitutional duty to protect and evacuate Americans in Gaza, an order for immediate evacuation, and the reimbursement of legal costs.
Watch this clip about the Department of Defense's preparation to evacuate one million Americans in the Middle East.
This video is from the TruNews channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
IDF demands evacuation that will displace tens of thousands of people in Gaza.
Gaza doctors send “SOS to whole world” as U.S. suggests evacuation corridor to Egypt.
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