Americans in Israel when Hamas attacked talk about ordeal

PHOENIX - As the war in Israel continues, those who escaped the battles have horrific stories to tell.

The war began when Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack from the Gaza Strip, and on Oct. 8, the Israeli government formally declared war and gave the green light for "significant military steps" to retaliate.

"What is happening now in Israel, happened here not too many years ago on 9/11, and it could unfortunately happen anywhere else around the world at any given time if we don’t all know how to fight against terrorism," said Eliav Benjamin, Deputy Head of Mission at the Israeli Embassy, in an interview with our sister station FOX 5 (WTTG) in Washington, D.C.

Americans fleeing violence

As hostilities continue, we are hearing from Americans who have fled the country, or are trying to flee the country, are talking about their current situation.

Amongst the Americans trying to flee is an 18-year-old Mesa resident. According to Joanne Jolee, her daughter, son-in-law, and their two oldest children, were driving to Tel Aviv from Jerusalem when the war broke out: their flights were canceled, so they went back to Tel Aviv to find a hotel.

"I got this absolutely heartbreaking email from my granddaughter," said Joanne. "She says ‘Nana, I am honestly scared for my life. I don’t know if we’re ever going to make it back to the U.S.’ How’s that for a grandmother to hear?"

Jolee's family members were originally set to fly out 24 hours after the attack by Hamas.

Their flight never left.

"In the hotel, going up to their floor, there were just bombs thudding off all around them," Jolee said. "They were absolutely terrified. Sirens were going off."

Jolee said she wants the Federal government to bring Americans caught in the midst of the war back home.

"What’s really frustrating is that we’re seeing other countries like Poland send military-supported jetliners to pick up their citizens. I’ve called the State Department for two days. Nothing. We should be sending people in to get our people evacuated."

Members of Jolee's family are currently set to fly out of the country via a commercial airliner on Saturday, but with the war escalating, Jolee said five days is five days too long.

"We heard last night that rockets were being aimed at the airport," said Jolee. "We’re concerned that perhaps there won’t be an airport in a few days."

We also spoke with an American-Canadian dual citizen who was in Israel when Hamas terrorists attacked.

The woman, Shauna Osten, was on vacation with friends, and even visited some family members in Tel Aviv. She had gone out that night, and in the morning, sirens started to go off.

"I had actually texted my boyfriend and my mom and my dad and said ‘I love you so much. I’m never going to see you again,’" Osten recounted.

Osten hid in the stairwell of a building. That place was one of the designated bomb shelters in Tel Aviv. She said she was surrounded by people, and they were all hysterical as rockets shook the core of the bomb shelter, along with everyone in it.

"We just spent hours in the bomb shelter, and the reason why I’m actually not crying right now is just simply because I’m so tired. It’s been 72 hours, which actually feels like four months," said Osten.

As news poured in about the Hamas attacks, along with a declaration of war by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Osten knew she had to escape, a feat that was not made easy with flight cancellations. She had to travel through Turkey before she managed to get a flight to London.

"It’s like a shock to the system," said Osten. "Every noise I hear, I realize I have a lot of symptoms of PTSD. I just want to go home."

Osten, however, can't help but think of those she had to leave behind.

"They found a mass grave of over 300 people, and that’s where one of our friends went missing," Said Osten. "All of my israeli friends I was supposed to see, they’re actually fighting in the war."

Osten said this is an experience she can only label as surreal, and she wants everyone to keep watching the stories coming out of the now war-torn country.

"I’d encourage them to look at the graphics, because if it makes you uncomfortable, imagine being in that position," said Osten.

On Oct. 9, we obtained a statement from the FBI related to the present situation in Israel. The statement reads:

"The FBI Phoenix field office has been in touch with local communities around the state of Arizona to reassure them we are tracking closely the events in the Middle East. Hate crimes and violence against members of any community will not be tolerated. We remind the public to report any suspicious or threatening activity to tips.fbi.gov."

FBI officials also said there are no credible threats at this time in Arizona.