A spokesperson for the US State Department announced today, Tuesday, that the United States has assisted more than 400 American citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other qualified individuals in leaving Gaza. Deputy State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel stated, "We continue to work in partnership with... Egypt and Israel to provide safe passage for more American citizens and their immediate family members, as well as lawful permanent residents in the United States." Patel added, "This is an ongoing and volatile situation." He noted that the number of American citizens able to leave is expected to rise.
An Egyptian security source indicated that at least 320 foreign citizens and their families entered Egypt via the Rafah crossing today, which is the only border crossing not controlled by Israel, along with 100 Egyptians. The crossing had been closed on Saturday and Sunday following an Israeli strike on an ambulance heading to Rafah. Patel stated that to date, 526 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies have entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing. He added that the United States is working with Israel to develop inspection mechanisms that would allow trucks to enter Gaza more quickly.
Egyptian officials have previously stated that Israeli inspection procedures "significantly delay the arrival of aid." Israel maintains that hostages must be released first before fighting can cease, while Hamas states that it will not release hostages or stop fighting while Gaza is under attack. Washington has supported Israel's position that a ceasefire would bolster Hamas militarily, but it has called for a humanitarian truce with the possibility of negotiations for the release of the hostages.
