New Delhi: On Wednesday, the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt opened for the first time since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict on 7 October, to allow foreign passport holders and possibly critically wounded civilians to leave the besieged enclave.
According to reports, Qatar mediated the agreement between Egypt, Israel and Hamas – which has been in control of the Gaza Strip since 2007 – in coordination with the US, to allow these limited evacuations, though it was not immediately clear how long the crossing would remain open.
The deal is not linked to other issues under negotiation such as the release of hostages held by Hamas, or a ceasefire in Israel’s bombardment to allow humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip, which is suffering from food, water, fuel and medical shortages, the reports added.
Shortly before the crossing opened, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he expected “a first group of foreign nationals” to leave Gaza.
“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,” he wrote on social media platform X (previously Twitter).
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.
— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) November 1, 2023
Palestinians had gathered at the border since morning in anticipation that the crossing would open while Egypt reportedly kept ready a field hospital in Sheikh Zuwayed in the Sinai. The country also sent ten ambulances to Rafah on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, two of Gaza Strip’s main hospitals – Al-Shifa and the Indonesia Hospital – have appealed for fuel, and said they may shut down within 24 hours.
Al Jazeera reported later that 80 wounded and 400 foreign nationals or dual passport holders would be allowed into Egypt through the Rafah crossing. The report said officials in Gaza released a list of the names, asking them to proceed to the crossing.
Israel declared war on Hamas on 7 October, after the militant group attacked its southern towns and killed more than 1,400 people, and abducted over 220 others, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel’s devastating airstrikes on Gaza – to “fully dismantle” Hamas – have recently been bolstered by a deadly ground invasion in the north.
Nearly 2.2 million people in the coastal strip remain caught in this crossfire, amid global calls for a ceasefire to ease the humanitarian crisis in the strip. Nearly 1.4 million have been internally displaced, the United Nations said, after the Israeli Defence Forces ordered residents in northern Gaza to move south to intensify their assault on Hamas infrastructure there.
Meanwhile Wednesday, communications and internet services were completely cut off in Gaza Strip, Gaza’s largest telecommunications provider Paltel has reportedly said.
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