Hundreds of foreign passport holders and wounded individuals trapped in Gaza have finally been allowed to leave the war-torn territory as the Rafah border crossing to Egypt opened for the first time since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. The Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry in Gaza has released a list of approved foreign passport holders who can leave Gaza via the crossing. Although at least five NGO workers confirmed as Americans were listed as approved to cross on Wednesday, it is uncertain how many of the estimated 400 American citizens stuck in Gaza will be able to leave in the coming days.
One American trapped in Gaza expressed doubts about being able to cross yet. Susan Beseiso, a Utah resident, told CBS News, “They started letting foreigners out today but it’s not Americans because I guess we’re not as important as we thought.” Beseiso criticized the American Embassy and the State Department for not communicating with them or making efforts to evacuate them. She accused them of using them as hostages, saying, “It’s like they’re holding us hostages — not Hamas holding us hostages — it’s the IDF soldiers, Egypt, and America. They’re using us as a human shield in a way.”
Footage showed the gate of the Rafah crossing on the Palestinian side of the border opening on Wednesday morning, allowing people to cross into Egypt for the first time since the war began. Although convoys of aid had passed between Egypt and Gaza earlier, no individuals were permitted to cross until now. It was expected that approximately 545 foreigners and dual nationals, along with dozens of sick and wounded individuals, would be allowed to leave. CBS News confirmed that Qatar had mediated an agreement between Egypt, Israel, and Hamas, with coordination from the U.S., to facilitate these limited evacuations.
Once inside the terminal area, the evacuees had to endure long queues for passport and document checks. On Wednesday, the first ambulances carrying wounded Palestinians from Gaza crossed into Egypt via the Rafah crossing. At least 81 individuals are being allowed to travel in ambulances from Rafah to Arish for medical treatment, according to CBS News producer Marwan Al Ghoul.
The terminal area for the Rafah border crossing had been targeted during Israeli air raids after the Hamas attacks, resulting in the death of 1,400 individuals, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities. Another 240 people were taken hostage. Some of those being taken to Egyptian hospitals for treatment are among the more than 15,000 individuals injured in retaliatory Israeli strikes, as reported by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry claims that these strikes have killed over 8,500 people, with two-thirds of them being women and children.
In addition to the turmoil caused by the ongoing conflict, the Gaza Strip also experienced an internet blackout. Internet watchdog Netblocks and major Palestinian operator Paltel reported that the entire Gaza Strip was without internet access. This blackout followed a 48-hour communications blackout when Israel announced the expansion of its ground operation. Telecommunications were restored on Monday before this latest blackout occurred.