France is evacuating its nationals still present.
“42 people were able to leave the Gaza Strip today, through the Rafah crossing point” at the request of France, said this Monday evening in a press release the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, referring to “French nationals, French residents or collaborators of the French Institute, with members of their families”.
In total, more than 200 people have been evacuated “at the request of France” since October 7 and the Hamas attacks in Israel, according to a count from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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“This exit is the result of efforts by the French authorities, carried out at the highest level,” further specifies the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The evacuated people “were constantly monitored since October by the Consulate General of France in Jerusalem,” he continues.
They were taken care of on the Egyptian side by the French embassy.
These evacuations take place in a context where Israel threatens the south of the Gaza Strip, and in particular Rafah, with a massive attack.
The United States remains opposed to a large-scale Israeli military operation in Rafah without action to protect civilians in this Palestinian town on the Egyptian border, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Monday. .