A Palestinian official on the Gaza side of the border said the foreign passport holders departed from the territory on six buses. A source on the Egyptian side said they would undergo security checks when they reached Egypt.
Palestinians with dual citizenship walk at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, in the hope of getting permission to leave Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, November 1, 2023
According to three Egyptian sources and a Palestinian official, at least 320 people with foreign passports and a few injured Gazans entered Egypt on Wednesday, becoming the first group of people to profit from a deal mediated by Qatar.
As per the agreement mediated by Egypt, Israel, and Hamas, 81 injured individuals and a preliminary roster of 500 foreign passport holders are anticipated to be let to exit the Gaza Strip in the upcoming days, according to multiple national sources.
A diplomatic source briefed on Egyptian plans said some 7,500 foreign passport holders would be evacuated from Gaza over the course of about two weeks, adding that Al Arish airport would be made available to fly people out. Diplomats said initial foreign national evacuees were expected to travel by road to Cairo and fly out from there.
The limited evacuations come more than three weeks into a total blockade of Gaza by Israel, which has been bombarding the densely populated enclave and has sent in ground troops in response to an attack by Hamas fighters on Israel on Oct. 7.
