British nationals trapped in the hellish warzone of Gaza were given hope today as the Foreign Secretary announced a border crossing would be open for the first time.
James Cleverly said in a statement this morning the Rafah crossing in the south with Egypt would be “open today for a first group of foreign nationals”. He did not specify if Britons would be among those crossing.
An estimated 200 Britons are thought to be trapped in Gaza since the war began on October 7 sparked by terror attacks on Israel by Hamas. Several UK nationals are also thought to have been taken hostage.
Among those inside Gaza are the parents-in-law of SNP leader Humza Yousaf. He recently said he had lost contact with his wife Nadia’s mother and father Elizabeth El-Nakla and Maged El-Nakla.
Communications have been all but cut-off in Gaza as Israel mounts an increasinly intense ground assault in an attempt to ‘wipe out’ Hamas.
READ MORE… IDF suffers deadliest day in war as Hamas chief killed in huge airstrike
Writing on X this morning, Mr Cleverly said: “The Rafah crossing is likely to open today for a first group of foreign nationals. UK teams are ready to assist British nationals as soon as they are able to leave.
“It’s vital that lifesaving humanitarian aid can enter Gaza as quickly as possible.”
At the Rafah crossing this morning dozens of foreign passport holders could be seen rossing from Gaza to Egypt.
It appeared to be the first time foreign passport holders have been allowed to leave the besieged territory since the start of the Israel-Hamas war more than three weeks ago.
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Internent providers Paltel and Jawwal reported a “complete disruption” of communications and internet services in Gaza, the second major cut in five days. 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 8,525, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, more than 122 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids.
More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, most of them civilians slain in the initial October 7 Hamas rampage that started the fighting. In addition, around 240 hostages were taken from Israel into Gaza by the militant group. One of the captives, a female Israeli soldier, was rescued in a special forces operation.
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