Unprecedented Rescue
Israel, U.S., and Jordan Conduct Rare Joint Op to Rescue Palestinian Woman from Gaza
A daring 19-hour joint mission between Israel, the U.S., and Jordan successfully rescued 59-year-old Ahlam Firwana from war-torn Gaza after months of failed attempts. Coordinated with the IDF, Shin Bet, and Mossad, the covert operation required a temporary halt in Israeli airstrikes to ensure safe passage, marking one of the most complex humanitarian evacuations since the war began.
A covert operation involving unprecedented cooperation between Israel, the United States, and Jordan successfully rescued Ahlam Firwana, a 59-year-old Palestinian woman and mother of a U.S. Navy medic, from Gaza in mid-September.
According to The Washington Post, the meticulously coordinated 19-hour mission required a temporary halt in Israeli Air Force airstrikes to ensure safe passage.
Younis Firwana, Ahlam’s son, who gained U.S. citizenship after enlisting in the Navy in 2023, sought help after his family’s situation in Gaza deteriorated amid the ongoing war. Their home was destroyed, and they resorted to eating birdseed to survive.
After months of failed attempts, Younis contacted a U.S. Special Forces veterans’ group, which has facilitated the evacuation of approximately 1,100 people from Gaza since October 2023.
The operation involved coordination with the IDF, Shin Bet, and Mossad to secure a safe route, with additional support from Morgan Ortagus, a former Trump administration official, who connected the team with U.S. Embassy officials in Amman.
Initial plans for Israeli-assisted transport were scrapped due to logistical issues, and a subsequent plan for funded transport to Kerem Shalom collapsed amid intensified fighting.
Ultimately, one of Ahlam’s sons drove her south until roadblocks forced her and her daughter to continue on foot.
Under Israeli aerial monitoring and diplomatic supervision, they reached safety on September 17 after a grueling journey.
U.S. officials, while updated throughout, issued no public statements. A senior official noted that the U.S. Embassy in Amman went “above and beyond” to ensure the safe evacuation of the mother of a U.S. service member.