Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
A Palestinian American Engineer Based In LA Is Trying To Get His Parents Out of Gaza
Loay Elbasyouni with his parents.
(
Loay Elbasyouni
)
The death toll in Gaza has now passed 20,000 people. That's almost 1% of the occupied territory's pre-war population, according to Associated Press. Nearly 85% of Gaza's population has been displaced since Israel declared war on Hamas after its October 7th attack that killed 1,200 people.
Southern Californians with family in Gaza are watching this humanitarian crisis unfold from afar. Loay Elbasyouni is a Palestinian American engineer who grew up in Gaza and lives in Los Angeles, where he has worked on a number of space projects with NASA and now Blue Origin.
His parents were visiting Gaza when the war began and have been trapped there since. He says many of his family members have died since the bombardment began.
LAist's Sharon McNary spoke with Loay Elbasyouni about what his family is facing in Gaza. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Support for LAist comes from
LAist: What has it been like for you watching this crisis unfold from so far away?
Loay Elbasyouni: It's been extremely difficult. My mental state of mind has been going through a lot of thoughts. I cannot believe this is happening and that we're witnessing these atrocities being committed [on a] civilian population. And it's extremely sad for me.
I'm a person who works on space. I view Earth as one place for all of us, and we are one human race. And so to me, just seeing this atrocity committed against us just completely breaks my heart and my mind and makes me question a lot of things in life.
LAist: How are your parents doing? Have you been able to communicate with them?
LE: I was able to connect with them for like 30 seconds today. Honestly, they're so broken. They lost hope — they stopped even telling us if they had food or not, if they had water.
My mom has been literally rationing the water. My dad has a heart condition. We know his health condition is extremely difficult and he also cannot really walk. So it's devastating. They've already been bombarded where they're at. Three artillery shells hit the location where they're staying.
Support for LAist comes from
I call a hundred times a day and you might get lucky to talk to them for a second or two. And sometimes it takes two weeks for that call to catch.
LAist: You grew up in this same area. What are your memories of growing up and how different is that from what you're seeing happen now?
LE: I grew up in the groves. We had orange groves. I used to go with my grandfather to take care of the orange groves, working with the land. My dad [was] the top, best surgeon in Palestine at some point before he retired. Gaza is such a beautiful place. I have very deep love with the land, with the people.
It just kind of breaks me to see this is happening right now. It breaks my heart to see every tree [and] historic sites being destroyed. [Also] the death and how brutal people are. Nobody knows when it's their turn. It feels like somebody's pulling [a] lottery ticket, you just keep drawing. You're drawing for whether you live or die.
LAist: I know you're trying to help your parents leave Gaza. What's the status of that right now?
My parents are older. They cannot really stay there. I'm trying to coordinate a Red Cross or a Red Crescent ambulance to escort them out because I'm really worried. I don't know if I'll be able to see my parents again. [That's the] one request I have — if the U.S. government or anybody listening can help us with this.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist