British nationals have departed Gaza amid the ongoing conflict with Israel, marking the first time since the war broke out last month. The UK Foreign Office confirmed that an unspecified number of UK passport holders were able to leave through the Rafah crossing into Egypt on Wednesday. The route is being opened for limited periods to allow foreign nationals and injured Palestinians to exit the region. It is estimated that around 200 British nationals are currently in Gaza.
On Wednesday, it was announced that the crossing would permit around 500 people per day, with Egyptian authorities overseeing the control of the border. However, amid a large crowd gathered at the crossing, it was announced that only individuals whose names appeared on an approved list by the Egyptian and Israeli governments would be given clearance. The UK Foreign Office has provided a list of those wishing to leave.
In the evening, the UK Foreign Office confirmed that some British citizens were among a group of approximately 400 foreign nationals and injured Palestinians who managed to cross into Egypt. However, the exact number and identities were not disclosed. Earlier in the day, BBC interviewed British-Palestinian doctor Abdelkader Hammad, who was initially informed that he would be part of the first group allowed to leave but was later faced with a closed route and expressed frustration and confusion at the border.
Thousands of people had already gathered at the border, hoping to leave Gaza when it was announced that only those on the approved list would be permitted to cross. Without passport control or an electronic ID system in place, the process is slowed down as each person’s identity needs to be manually checked by officials. The crossing also witnessed ambulances transporting injured individuals into Egypt for medical treatment.
Since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in over 1,400 deaths and numerous hostages, the routes in and out of Gaza have remained closed. It is known that 14 British nationals were among those killed, and three others are missing. The health ministry in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, reports that over 8,700 individuals have been killed since Israel initiated airstrikes in response to the attacks.
The limited opening of the Rafah crossing follows international efforts to urge Egypt to allow people to leave Gaza and facilitate the delivery of aid to the region. UK government officials have expressed their commitment to sending humanitarian supplies to Gaza and helping British nationals return home. Meanwhile, Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf’s in-laws are among the British nationals in Gaza, experiencing a lack of clean drinking water and depleting supplies.
Both Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have called for temporary halts in the fighting to enable the movement of aid. These humanitarian pauses, albeit shorter than full ceasefires, are primarily aimed at delivering humanitarian support rather than achieving long-term political resolutions, according to the United Nations.
Additional reporting by Sean Seddon
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