Dozens of foreign passport holders and injured Palestinians allowed to flee Gaza as war rages on
- 01 Nov 2023
Hundreds of dual passport holders and dozens of seriously injured Palestinians were allowed to leave Gaza on Wednesday after more than three weeks under siege, while Israeli airstrikes destroyed apartments in a densely populated area for the second straight day.
The group were the first people to leave Gaza — other than four hostages released by Hamas and another rescued by Israeli forces — even as bombings have driven hundreds of thousands from their homes, and food, water and fuel run low. It remained unclear whether more people would be allowed to leave Gaza in coming days.
Seventy-six wounded Palestinians and 335 foreigners or dual-nationals were allowed to cross from the Gaza Strip for Egypt, an Egyptian official at the Rafah crossing said.
An initial group of foreign nationals, including Americans, departed Gaza through the Rafah crossing, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, adding that Washington expects exits of US citizens and others to continue over the next several days.
"The situation remains extremely fluid but this has been an important breakthrough, and we will keep working on it to ensure that all of the US citizens who wish to depart safely from Gaza can do so," Miller told reporters.
By 4:30 pm (1430 GMT), ambulances had transported 76 wounded Palestinians into Egypt and six buses took 335 foreign passport holders, the official told AFP, who was reached by phone in Ismailia.
The Egyptian authorities had said they would allow 90 wounded Palestinians and around 545 foreigners and dual nationals to cross on Wednesday. "The Rafah terminal will open again on Thursday to allow the passage of more foreigners and dual citizens," a security source told AFP.
Four Italians were among the foreigners who left Gaza on Wednesday, Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X, formerly Twitter. "I just spoke with the first four Italians to leave the Gaza Strip. They are tired but in good health, assisted by the Italian consul in Cairo. We continue to work to get everyone else out," he added.
A "first group" of five French nationals was also among those allowed to leave the besieged territory, France's foreign ministry said.
"We continue our efforts so that all our compatriots, our staff, and their families who wish to do so can leave Gaza as soon as possible," it added, noting concern for about 50 French nationals and their families.
Communications and internet services were gradually being restored after the second major cut in five days, according to Paltel, the main telecommunications provider. Humanitarian aid agencies have warned that such blackouts severely disrupt their work in an already dire situation in Gaza.
The Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war has reached 8,805, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza. In the West Bank, 130 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "is appalled over the escalating violence in Gaza” including the killing of Palestinians by Israeli airstrikes in the Jabaliya refugee camp on Tuesday and Wednesday, his spokesman says.
"He condemns in the strongest terms, any killings of civilians,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters. Dujarric said: "The secretary-general reiterates that all parties must abide by international law, international humanitarian law including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.”
The UN chief also reiterated his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages taken from Israel by Hamas during its surprise attacks on Oct.7, Dujarric said. And he called again "for the entry of vital humanitarian assistance at a scale needed to meet the mounting needs of the Palestinian population.”
Agencies