Issues new White House journey ban on Gaza could affect Palestinian youngsters in Bay Area for medical therapy

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Last week, three youngsters arrived at San Francisco International Airport from Gaza for life-saving medical therapy. But now, there are issues they may very well be despatched again.

Dr. Mohammad Subeh, a Bay Area emergency drugs doctor, and one of many medical doctors who helped to convey the three youngsters to Bay Area, says he had a sense of “profound sadness and bewilderment that my fellow human beings want to inflict additional cruelty and inhumane actions against these children, who are just trying to survive.”

On Saturday, the White House announced that it will issue a travel ban on individuals coming from Gaza — a halt to all customer visas and a assessment of these already within the U.S. on particular medical visas.

“We are concerned that this is a direct response to anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic rhetoric from Representative Randy Fine and Laura Loomer… by continuing its broader trend of ‘Israel First,'” stated Zahra Billoo, govt director of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of CAIR, the Council on American Islamic Relations.

Though President Trump has made comments recognizing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the State Department’s coverage shift comes after far-right activist Laura Loomer, described by CAIR National as an “anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist,” criticized the three Gazan children for coming to the U.S. for medical therapy.

Loomer, who’s described as having an influential role in the Trump administration, claims the Gazan youngsters coming for medial therapy pose a “national security threat.” Then on Saturday, Loomer took to X to take credit for the policy change.

“The United States is arming the Israeli military and settlers, permitting them to cause critical injuries to Palestinians. And now, prohibiting those very Palestinians from seeking medical treatment in the United States,” Billoo stated.

In a press release to ABC7 News, the group Heal Palestine, which introduced the three Gazan children to the U.S. says that it, “works closely with the State Department to ensure every child and their families meet their rigorous vetting standards.”

Heal Palestine says their sufferers go by means of Palestinian, Israeli, Jordanian and American immigration officers earlier than they arrive to the Unites States. In addition, Heal Palestine says all medical remedies are paid for by donations.

Leyan, 14, was badly burned and injured by shrapnel in a faculty bombing. Anas, 8, survived a bombing that killed his father. He suffered accidents to his legs. Six-year-old Ghazal was wounded in an explosion. All have begun therapy. Their surgical procedures will probably be scheduled as soon as the three overcome their malnutrition.

RELATED: Several injured youngsters from Gaza arrive at SFO for medical care at Bay Area hospitals

One of the kids is being handled at an East Bay hospital. East Bay Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-Oakland), says she is going to combat any try and ship the children again early.

“I did read the post coming from the administration. And I think we can all see the point is cruelty,” Simon stated.

And whereas the probabilities the three youngsters from Gaza will probably be despatched residence early are low, UC College of the Law Professor Emeritus George Bisharat says nobody is protected.

“For humanitarian reasons, they should not be subjected to this kind of discrimination. But that pattern is there. And it gives me concern that this is not a flash in the pan,” Bisharat stated.

Heal Palestine says one in all its sufferers who got here to the Bay Area in Dec. 2024, has underwent surgical procedure and acquired a prosthetic leg and eye. She will probably be going residence on Monday now that her therapy is full.