STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Dina Massoud, 35, a Prince’s Bay resident, has spent every day in tears, praying and pleading with government officials to bring her three eldest children, who were trapped in Gaza, home.
On Thursday some of her prayers were answered when she was reunited with her children — Said Alashi, 15; Jihan Alashi, 15; and Hanan Alashi, 11 — at the American Embassy in Egypt.
“My feelings when I was reunited with my kids [were] indescribable. It was like someone had lost a part of them[selves] and… found it,” said Massoud, through her translator, Rania Mustafa, executive director of the Clifton, New Jersey-based Palestinian American Community Center (PACC).
“I hugged them and was in disbelief. I praised God that he returned them to me safe and sound,” added Massoud, a Gaza native who left the Palestinian territory in 2017 after getting divorced.
But Massoud’s journey isn’t over; she needs to obtain humanitarian visas to bring her children, who were formerly living with her ex-husband in Gaza, to Staten Island.
“The next steps I am taking is to get my kids their green cards,” she said. “The embassy has been so cooperative, and has been treating us with a lot of kindness. Hopefully, I can come back to America with my kids as soon as possible. The last thing I wish for is anyone who can assist me [in making] sure I get my kids their green cards as soon possible. I want to take them home so that they can start their new lives and school[s].”
She made a special plea to government officials to help expedite the process.
“This call for help is for U.S. Sen. [Charles] Schumer and any senators or Congress people [who] can help. I hope that they can also help me when my kids are with me in America, like they helped me get them to America,” said Massoud.
Having already stepped in to help facilitate Massoud’s reunion with her children, Schumer has pledged his continued support.
“It is incredible…
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