RESTON, Va. — As the sun rises on another day in Gaza, here at home Joe Rauschenberger is not so patiently waiting to hear from his sister.
"This is the time of night where you start worrying because you know the aerial assault comes predominantly at night," said Rauschenberger
Wednesday night, Rauschenberger spoke to WUSA9 from his home in Reston.
His sister, Emilee Abu Hamad, her husband, and their five children are trapped in Gaza he says.
"First thing Monday morning she contacted us and said they've gotten the official IDF text message, that they needed to relocate," said Rauschenberger.
He told WUSA9 that his sister is a former school teacher. She taught in D.C. and Baltimore and was an education policy professional. He says she moved to the United Kingdom to help work for the Teach For America program and has dual citizenship there and in the U.S.
According to Rauschenberger, his sister, her husband and their children were visiting family in Gaza when everything began unfolding.
"As of last night the block next to hers had been bombed out," he explained.
He shared videos with WUSA9 showing her son playing a game as the sound of rockets can be heard overhead. Another video shows flashes through the sky not far from where they were staying.
Monday they evacuated and have since been staying with about 30 other people in another part of Gaza. He says they're just trying to escape uninjured.
"She's an educated, deeply passionate person, who understands the plight of the Palestinians. She would tell you Hamas is not right. She would tell you it's a very complicated situation and there needs to be peace and diplomacy on both sides," said Rauschenberger.