On Wednesday, hundreds of foreign nationals and wounded Palestinians began entering Egypt through the Rafah border crossing from Gaza, as reported by Egyptian media.
Rafah has emerged as the only possible exit point from Gaza after Israel closed its borders with the besieged territory in the aftermath of Hamas’ 7 October attack.
Foreign Nationals, Wounded Gazans Enter Egypt
Egyptian sources and a Palestinian official reported that at least 320 foreign passport holders and several injured Gazans evacuated the Palestinian enclave through the Rafah border into Egypt on Wednesday, the first to benefit from an agreement negotiated by Qatar.
Palestinian officials on the Gazan side of the border confirmed that the foreign passport holders left the enclave aboard six buses. When they arrive in Egypt, they will undergo security procedures, as stated by an Egyptian source.
Egyptian government officials reported that hundreds of people are going to Cairo, where some will board planes back to their home countries. Among them are citizens of Austria, the UK, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Japan.
First civilians leave Gaza through Rafah border crossing into Egypt.
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) November 1, 2023
Some foreign nationals and injured civilians on Wednesday became the first to make it out of the Gaza Strip since the start of Israel's war with Hamas. https://t.co/K5A1Ksdxbb
As per reports, Egypt has sent a fleet of ambulances to the Rafah border to bring up to 90 severely wounded Palestinians to Egyptian field hospitals near Rafah.
Egypt’s health ministry stated that 16 medical evacuees have been taken to hospitals in northern Sinai, 11 to Al Arish, and five to Bir al-Abd. Cairo has also set up a field hospital in Sheikh Zuweid, 15 km from Rafah, to treat Gaza evacuees.
Nahed Abu Taeema, director of the Gaza Strip’s Nasser Hospital, told Reuters that 19 badly injured patients from his facility will be among the 81 evacuated to Egypt. “Those require advanced surgeries that can’t be done here because of the lack of capabilities, especially women and children,” Teema said.
Doctors Without Borders’ 22 foreign staff members have also departed Gaza, with a new medical team ready to join the Palestinian enclave “as the situation allows,” the charity reported on Wednesday.
Israeli officials reported that foreign governments have been working with Egypt to ensure safe passage for foreign nationals and Palestinians with dual citizenship from Gaza to Rafah ever since Tel Aviv commenced its bombardment of the Hamas-controlled strip more than three weeks ago in response to the October 7 attack on Israel.
Qatar-Brokered Deal
According to sources acquainted with the negotiations, the evacuation comes after an agreement that Qatar mediated between Israel, Hamas, and Egypt, in cooperation with the US, allowing for the release of foreign nationals and seriously injured civilians from Gaza.
However, there is no timeframe for how long the Rafah crossing will be open for evacuation.
The agreement is not associated with other matters being negotiated, such as hostages held by Hamas, which rules Gaza, or pauses intended to alleviate a humanitarian crisis in the enclave, which is suffering from food, water, fuel, and medical shortages, as reported by the source.
🇵🇸 Around 390 people with foreign passports and 81 wounded people left the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing , local sources told Sputnik.
— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) November 1, 2023
⚫️About 1,000 foreigners will cross daily from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing into Egypt from November 2, the media… pic.twitter.com/neIQwWBYKu
Diplomatic sources briefed on Egyptian preparations revealed that around 7,500 foreign passport holders will be evacuated from Gaza over the course of about two weeks, with Al Arish airport made accessible to fly people out. The first foreign national refugees are likely to reach Cairo by road, and then fly out.
Palestinian officials said that Israel’s bombing of Gaza has killed over 8,500 Palestinians and injured over 21,500 more. Israel has also severely curtailed Gaza’s access to electricity, water, fuel, and food, causing UN authorities to warn of a humanitarian crisis.
Situation in Gaza
Phone and internet services in Gaza were shut down on Wednesday morning, with the telecommunications provider Paltel claiming a “complete disruption” of services in the enclave for the second time since the war began.
The Wednesday blackout reportedly made it difficult to learn more about the fatalities of Tuesday’s Israeli attack on the Jabalia refugee camp north of Gaza City.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has urged for the immediate restoration of connection as first responders and ambulances need to continue work and keep families in touch.