GazaPassage International Envoy, Edward “Coach” Weinhaus, confirmed the volunteer group of American lawyers has partnered with third parties to help Gazan non-combatants to escape the war zone by gaining work permit access. A first set of Gazans has already departed. Although their destination is not subject to disclosure, GazaPassage Spokesperson Christopher Bedell revealed that the next group of up to 300 will be able to go to Latin America.
Bedell downplayed the accomplishment which is larger than the announced pilot size. “Piecing together security, logistics, transportation, immigration, economic factors, and, of course, the safety of non-combatant Gazans during a time of war took nothing more than our simple commitment: helping non-combatants escape a war zone. We call on international partners to join us.”
The implementation’s success depended on the skills of the departing Gazans themselves. Non-combatant men ages 20-40 who have skills in construction, the trades, or engineering are eligible, according to the work permit sponsors, plus their families. Coach shared that the family-inclusion aspect is crucial for GazaPassage’s agreement to participate in the program for its participants. “We aren’t a staffing agency.”
According to Coach, there are 300 available slots – for 75-80 eligible working heads of family and their respective family members.
Bedell laid out the logistics for how to apply. “First, we are taking declarations from existing GazaPassage Pilot Participants. If they have the host-required experience, then priority will be given to those with families.” When asked about the declaration, Bedell shared, “This isn’t for an accomplished honey-doer. A participant should lay out what construction, trade, or engineering experience has, in addition to our three earlier requirements, which all participants have already fulfilled.”
Bedell was referring to Coach’s memo in November to legal advisors demanding that Israel respect the humanitarian requirements of the non-combatant Gazans when coordinating security logistics.
He wrote:
- Security: GazaPassage only works with non-combatants. Each Participant must state that he/she is a non-combatant (and for those whom they speak such as minor family members).
- Identity: GazaPassage collects identification as available for each participant. Each Participant must authorize the sharing of their identification and contact information.
- Non-Permanence: No Gazan non-combatant is agreeing to permanently leave Gaza, but rather seeks refuge from a war zone. Each Participant must not be required to disavow Gaza as his/her permanent residence.
The organization then recommended a best practices statements for participants.
a) “I, and my listed family members, are non-combatants seeking to escape the war zone.”
b) “I have included all available identification information for myself and listed family members for the authorization of security checks.”
c) “I and my listed family members view Gaza as our permanent home. We do not agree to permanently leave Gaza as a result of our current disembarkment during the hostilities.”
Bedell clarified that Israel will likely also ask that the participants agree to coordinate any return to Gaza only after Israel’s approval.
The format of the new work experience declaration is straightforward. Along with the prior three statements, the applicant will list his applicable experience after the following:
I have the following construction, trades, or engineering experience:…”
CONTINUED EFFORTS TO BROADEN SECURITY PROTOCOLS WITH ISRAEL
Bedell stated that GazaPassage’s efforts to solidify the security protocols with Israel employing the above statements and principles would be followed even absent third party country work permits. The group and its Israel-based legal advisors are pressuring Israel to give the humanitarian crisis attention, particularly for non-combatants who wish to leave.
Due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, Bedell would not share any updates from the international envoy. However, in other news, Coach’s advocacy for Muslim civil rights continued in America. After earning a finding of discrimination from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission involving prospective employers refusing to hire a class of Somali Muslim drivers, he won judgment yesterday from federal district judge Hon. LaShonda A. Hunt on behalf of one of those drivers. (Farah v. Double M Express, Inc. et al, Case # 1:24-cv-01757, N.D. Ill. Final Default Judgment Entered 12/10/2024).
Coach refused comment on the matter noting that his work for GazaPassage is volunteer work not related to his practice of law other than through networking with other attorneys willing to devote their time.
GazaPassage’s original press release related to the 100-person pilot can be found here.
GazaPassage’s second press release can be found here.
GazaPassage’s initial phases are listed below. GazaPassage accepts no donations.
Phase I: October 15, 2023 – Sending International Envoy to Israel
Phase II: GazaPassage Pledge created during Phase II (announced when Phase III)
Phase III: Dec: 2023 – Mission Bifurcation after Israel Says It Will Allow Gazans Back in the North
Phase IV: Jan 2024 Funding Model
Phase V: April 2024: Current Pilot Program
