A "first group of five French nationals" was among those evacuated Wednesday from Gaza to Egypt, a first since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, the French Foreign Ministry said. "We are continuing our efforts to ensure that all our compatriots, our agents and their families who wish to do so can leave Gaza as soon as possible," he added, adding that about <> French nationals and their families were concerned.
Seventy-six wounded Palestinians and 335 foreigners and dual nationals were evacuated, an Egyptian official told AFP. "By 16:30 p.m. (14 GMT), 30 wounded Palestinians in ambulances and 76 people with foreign passports in six buses had crossed" the Rafah border crossing, the only opening to the world of the small territory of Gaza that is not in the hands of Israel, the official said, reached by telephone by AFP in the northeastern city of Ismailia.
Crossing 'reopened on Thursday'
«
The Rafah crossing will be reopened on Thursday to allow more foreigners and dual nationals to pass through," a source in the Egyptian security services told AFP. Officials at the Palestinian and Egyptian crossings said in the morning that nearly 90 wounded Palestinians and about 545 dual nationals and foreigners were expected to cross on Wednesday.
Read alsoIsrael-Hamas conflict: why Egypt refuses to take in refugees from Gaza
Among the foreigners who left Gaza were four Italians, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X, formerly Twitter. "I have just spoken to the first four Italians out of the Gaza Strip. They were tired but in good health, and were assisted by the Italian consul in Cairo. We continue to work to get everyone else out," he added.
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Congress that "about 1,000" U.S. citizens and relatives were seeking to be evacuated from Gaza — 400 with U.S. citizenship and the rest being relatives who do not have U.S. citizenship.