The first group of foreign passport holders from Gaza has arrived on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing today, Wednesday, after Qatar mediated an agreement between Egypt, Israel, and Hamas in coordination with the United States to allow the exit of foreign passport holders and some severely injured individuals from the besieged Gaza Strip. Additionally, Egyptian ambulances have started crossing from the Rafah crossing into Gaza to transport Palestinian injured individuals to a field hospital consisting of four tents, each with 20 beds, and 12 equipped medical trucks, located in Sheikh Zuweid, 15 kilometers from Rafah. Egypt is also planning to direct some injured individuals to a permanent hospital there and another hospital in Al-Arish or to transfer them to Ismailia, depending on the severity of their condition.
Local Egyptian media and a source on the Egyptian border reported to Reuters that the first group of injured individuals evacuated from Gaza has entered Egypt. Nahi Abu Taima, director of Nasser Hospital in Gaza, stated that 19 critically injured patients will be among those transported to Egypt, noting that they need advanced surgeries that cannot be performed in the enclave due to a lack of resources, especially for women and children. A source from the Palestinian border authority and two Egyptian security sources indicated that 81 injured individuals will enter Egypt for treatment today, Wednesday. An official from the Philippine Foreign Ministry pointed out that two Filipino doctors working for Doctors Without Borders will be among the first group of foreigners to leave Gaza via the crossing.
A knowledgeable source informed Reuters that the timeline for how long the crossing will remain open has not yet been determined, emphasizing that "the agreement is not linked to other ongoing negotiations, such as those concerning individuals held by Hamas, which governs Gaza, or temporary ceasefire periods to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the region suffering from shortages of food, water, fuel, and medicines." An Egyptian security source also indicated to Reuters that up to 500 foreign passport holders will enter Egypt from Gaza through the Rafah border crossing.
Additionally, there are 70 aid trucks in the Rafah area that have undergone the required inspections before they can enter the Gaza Strip under the existing agreement with Israel.
**Britain**
The British Foreign Office announced that British nationals are likely to leave Gaza in phases over the coming days. The ministry stated, "What we have learned is that the Rafah crossing will open for limited and monitored periods to allow specific groups of foreign nationals and critically injured individuals to leave," adding that "it is likely that British citizens will begin to leave Gaza in phases over the next few days."
**Indonesia**
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated today that the country has started efforts to evacuate its citizens from Gaza, some of whom "may depart today." In a press conference, she indicated that the evacuation of Indonesians from Gaza cannot happen immediately and must be gradual, emphasizing that safety is the priority.
**Italy**
According to Italian news agency ANSA, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed hope that the first group of Italian citizens could leave Gaza today. Tajani stated, "The first passage at Rafah has opened, and people have begun to leave. I hope the first group of Italian citizens can start to leave. Our embassy in Cairo is ready to welcome our citizens who will depart."
**Jordan**
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry announced the beginning of the evacuation of Jordanian citizens in coordination with Egyptian authorities before transferring them to the Kingdom. Israel has begun conducting ground incursions and maneuvers after heavily bombing the enclave for weeks in response to a surprise attack carried out by Hamas on October 7.
