British nationals have departed Gaza for the first time since last month when hostilities broke out between Israel and Gaza.
Reopening the Rafah Border
On Wednesday, an indeterminate number of British passport holders were able to depart Egypt via the Rafah border, according to the UK Foreign Office.
The passage was restored for “limited and controlled periods” to allow injured Palestinians and foreigners to leave.
It is estimated that 200 British citizens are present in Gaza.
The daily throughput at the Egyptian-controlled border crossing would be approximately 500 individuals, as disclosed on Wednesday.
Challenges at the Border
Thousands awaited departure at the frontier this morning, but it was revealed that entry would be restricted to those whose names appeared on a restricted list agreed upon by the Israeli and Egyptian governments.
According to the UK Foreign Office, it had transferred the identities of individuals desiring to depart from Gaza.
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It verified on Wednesday evening that approximately 400 foreign nationals and wounded Palestinians had crossed the border. Including some Britons, but did not specify who or how many.
However, at the border crossing, the path was impassable, and he described his frustration and confusion.
Dr. Hammad remarked, “It is somewhat aggravating. We have no idea what is happening, nor do we know whether the next group will depart tonight or tomorrow.
“It’s dark – I’m not sure it will happen tonight; we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
Many gathered at the Rafah border at 13:00 GMT when it was announced that only those on the list might pass.
He reported that the absence of a passport control or electronic ID system causes the departure process to be held down by the requirement for an official to manually verify the identities of each individual.
He also saw between twenty and thirty ambulances crossing the border, taking injured people to Egypt for medical treatment.
Access points to and from Gaza have been blocked ever since October 7, when Hamas, an organization that the United Kingdom has blacklisted as a terrorist organization, launched an assault on Israel, resulting in over 1,400 fatalities and the abduction of at least 239 individuals.
Fourteen British nationals were among those who perished. Three additional are absent.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry reported 8,700 dead since Israel launched airstrikes in response.
Following diplomatic efforts on an international level to persuade Egypt to permit aid to be transported into the enclave and to allow people to exit, a portion of the Rafah crossing was reopened.
Efforts to Assist British Nationals
Mr. Sunak said the government was committed to humanitarian aid to Gaza and helping British passport holders leave.
He went on: “We’re playing an active role in getting aid into Gaza to help those people who need it. Diplomatically working with everyone in the region to get our British nationals out of Gaza and hopefully home.”
Mr. Cleverly had previously stated in a tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, that British teams were present in Egypt and were “prepared to assist British nationals as soon as they are able to depart.”
A team has been dispatched to Arish, a city located approximately 25 miles (41 km) from Rafah, in order to “ensure we can provide the necessary medical, consular, and administrative support required” for British nationals.
In Gaza, British expatriates include the in-laws of Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf. While appreciating the reopening of the frontier, he reported that the parents of his spouse were still confined, lacking access to potable water, and with supplies rapidly dwindling.
Mr. Sunak and Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer want humanitarian “pauses” in hostilities for aid.
Humanitarian pauses are typically shorter in duration than formal ceasefires, lasting only a few hours at most.
The primary objective of their implementation, according to the United Nations, is generally to extend humanitarian aid. Long-term political resolutions are not yet anticipated.
