Washington, DC – Karam, an American citizen stranded in Lebanon, says she feels as if she does not matter to the United States government.For much of the past year, Lebanon has faced relentless Israeli bombardment — part of a US-backed campaign that has killed hundreds and displaced more than a million people, according to the United Nations.
In recent days, however, the violence has escalated, as the Israeli military launched a ground invasion in southern Lebanon. Karam contacted the US embassy in Beirut on Monday to request assistance in escaping the violence. But she stated she was told to find a way out of the country by herself. Fearing reprisals, Karam only revealed her moniker.
She contrasted this with the US State Department’s prompt deployment of special aircraft and a ship to rescue US nationals in Israel following Hamas’s October 7 attack of the previous year.
“Americans of Lebanese descent have been treated as lesser US citizens than Israeli US citizens. It is as if we don’t exist,” Karam told Al Jazeera.
On Wednesday, the administration of President Joe Biden announced that it contracted its first flight to evacuate US citizens from Beirut to Istanbul, nine days after Israel started its offensive in Lebanon.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the flight carried 100 US citizens — a fraction of the nearly 6,000 Americans who have contacted the US embassy for information and help.