Democracy Dies in Darkness

For American family trapped in Gaza as bombs fall, there’s no way out

October 12, 2023 at 9:22 p.m. EDT
Abood Okal, right, with his son Yousef and wife Wafaa Abuzayda, in New York’s Times Square in 2023. (Courtesy of Abood Okal)
4 min

For Abood Okal and his family, the nights are the worst — and each night is worse than the last.

When it grows dark, the bombing in Gaza intensifies. Sometimes there is an explosion every few minutes, close enough to make the house shake. In the morning, they feel fortunate to be alive.