In a significant development amid the ongoing strife, British nationals have for the first time since conflict broke out last month, left Gaza. The Foreign Office in the United Kingdom confirmed that an undisclosed number of UK passport holders successfully exited through the Rafah crossing into Egypt. The departures were made possible as the crossing was opened for restricted, timed hours, allowing foreign nationals and wounded Palestinians to leave the war-torn region. It is estimated that approximately 200 British nationals remain in Gaza.
Egyptian authorities, who operate the Rafah crossing, announced that they would allow a daily quota of around 500 individuals to pass, leading to a huge crowd of hopeful people at the border. However, only those individuals whose names were included on a specialized list approved by both Egyptian and Israeli governments were allowed to cross.
The British Foreign Office assured that they had submitted the names of their nationals who expressed the desire to leave Gaza. In the wake of Wednesday’s departures, confirmation came in that some Britons were among the 400 foreign nationals and injured Palestinians who had managed to cross through Rafah.
Among those initially expected to leave was Dr. Abdelkader Hammad, a British-Palestinian doctor, who upon reaching the crossing found it closed. Speaking from the same location late Wednesday evening, Dr. Hammad shared his frustration and confusion regarding the random closure and lack of clarity about future departures.
The process has been further complicated by the absence of passport control or an electronic ID system, slowing the exit process significantly as each individual’s identity has to be verified manually. There have also been accounts recorded of ambulances carrying injured victims into Egypt through the crossing for medical assistance.
Since the 7th of October, when Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization in the UK, attacked Israel, routes into and out of Gaza have been sealed. The rebel outfit is estimated to have killed over 1,400 people and taken a minimum of 239 individuals hostage. The Israeli counter-offensive, according to the Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza, has killed over 8,700 people.
The Rafah crossing opening, albeit partially, is the result of an international diplomatic push to persuade Egypt to permit the exit of people and entry of necessary aid into the embattled strip. Rishi Sunak held an additional call with Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, reiterating the UK government’s commitment to sending humanitarian supplies into Gaza and aiding UK passport holders’ departure from the area.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverley referred to the first departures out of Gaza as a critical initial progress milestone. He stated that British officials stationed in Egypt are primed and ready to provide support to the British nationals departing Gaza. Western officials also have teams placed in Arish, roughly 25 miles from Rafah, to ensure the provision of necessary medical, consular, and administrative support to the British nationals.
Prominent individuals amongst the British nationals still in Gaza include Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf’s in-laws. He spoke positively about the border opening but mentioned that his in-laws are still stranded, sans clean drinking water and with dangerously low supplies.
Both Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have advocated for humanitarian pauses in the relentless fighting to enable the movement of aid. These pauses typically last for a shorter duration when compared to formal ceasefires and are primarily enacted to offer humanitarian support. The United Nations dictates that the aim here is to provide aid, rather than strive towards long-term political solutions.
