Numerous foreign passport holders commenced their departure from the conflict-affected Gaza on Wednesday, as Egypt opened the Rafah crossing for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, according to media correspondents.
The exact number of individuals who successfully departed via the Rafah crossing at Gaza’s southern border with Egypt was not immediately evident. However, live footage from the location depicted large crowds entering the Palestinian side of the terminal.
While over 200 trucks carrying much-needed aid have entered Gaza from Egypt, no individuals have been permitted to leave the war-torn region. On Wednesday, it is anticipated that around 400 foreigners and dual nationals will make the crossing.
Foreign governments have identified passport holders from 44 different countries, as well as 28 agencies, including UN bodies, residing in the Gaza Strip. This area, home to 2.4 million people, has endured over three weeks of continuous Israeli bombardment in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks.
The small coastal territory has experienced severe shortages of food, water, and electricity, which have been described as “catastrophic.” These shortages resulted from an almost complete Israeli blockade in response to the attacks, which have been regarded as the most severe in Israel’s history, resulting in the loss of 1,400 lives, primarily civilians.
As reported by the health ministry in Gaza, which is administered by Hamas, the bombardments have resulted in the tragic loss of more than 8,500 lives, with two-thirds of the casualties being women and children.
Additionally, Egypt announced that a preliminary batch of 81 severely ill or wounded Palestinians would be granted entry into Egypt for urgent medical treatment on Wednesday. Television channels associated with the Egyptian intelligence services broadcast live images of a convoy of ambulances entering the terminal.
According to Palestinian sources, it is anticipated that a total of 88 individuals will be transported to Egyptian hospitals for medical treatment.
The choice to reopen the crossing occurred shortly after an Israeli airstrike on Gaza’s largest refugee camp, resulting in the loss of at least 50 lives, as reported by the health ministry.
On Tuesday, Egypt strongly denounced the attack on the Jabalia camp, expressing its condemnation “in the strongest terms.” In a statement from the foreign ministry, Egypt issued a caution regarding “the consequences of the continuation of these indiscriminate attacks that target defenceless civilians”
