Gaza (Washington Insider Magazine) —The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened briefly, allowing a group of 335 foreign passport holders, including British nationals, to exit the besieged region. This temporary reopening marks the first time foreign nationals have been permitted to leave Gaza since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, which led to widespread border closures. Officials expect the Rafah crossing to open intermittently to permit the departure of additional foreign citizens and injured Palestinians, with exit lists coordinated by Egyptian and Israeli authorities.
Western embassies are being notified in advance, enabling nations to prepare for the arrival of their citizens. In a statement, U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed that the efforts of American leadership facilitated safe passage for wounded Palestinians and foreign nationals, with Americans among those permitted to leave.
The U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly acknowledged this initial movement as a significant step, with further plans to ensure the safe evacuation of British nationals in the coming days. Approximately 200 Britons remain in Gaza, hoping to secure safe passage as the humanitarian crisis escalates.
Over three weeks of intensified airstrikes have devastated Gaza, where over 8,700 residents have reportedly died, and supplies of essentials like food, water, and medicine are dangerously low. Gaza’s health ministry states that over 20,000 people have been injured, while hospitals struggle to operate amid severe supply shortages. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended Egypt’s medical evacuations but emphasized that many patients within Gaza are too fragile to be moved, calling for an urgent increase in medical aid.
At Rafah, ambulances transported dozens of wounded people, including children, to medical facilities on the Egyptian side, with some relocated to field hospitals. Meanwhile, as Israel continues its airstrikes and ground operations, it urges residents of northern Gaza to evacuate south.
