A British surgeon who was trapped within the Gaza Strip for practically a month after the battle between Israel and Hamas broke out has stated he’s out “at last”.
NHS guide surgeon Abdel Hammad, who lives in Liverpool, is amongst a bunch of British nationals who have been capable of enter Egypt by way of the Rafah border crossing on Thursday.
The 67-year-old medic informed Sky News he was on a bus heading to the Egyptian capital Cairo with a British household of eight and an Australian individual.
Follow dwell: Israeli forces push into Gaza City
Mr Hammad, who had been ready for an evacuation for the reason that day after the newest battle broke out on 7 October when Hamas militants attacked Israeli communities, stated he entered a “no man’s land” on the border on Thursday morning earlier than crossing into Egypt.
“At last we are out. I am on the bus… we are going to stay the night in Cairo and hopefully we can catch a flight tomorrow.
“The bus was organised by the British embassy in Cairo.”
The surgeon volunteers for the charity Liverpool International Transplant Initiative in his spare time and has been travelling to Gaza since 2013.
The Rafah border crossing, the only gateway out of Gaza not controlled by Israel, is operated by Egypt and is only opened intermittently before closing again.
The Foreign Office had confirmed earlier that a group of British nationals had been able to enter Egypt from Gaza via the crossing.
The complete variety of UK nationals who’ve been capable of go away the Palestinian territory by way of the crossing for the reason that battle started has not been confirmed by the federal government division.
It can be not clear what number of British folks stay in Gaza however the quantity is regarded as within the low lots of.
Meanwhile, two UK help employees managed to go away Gaza by means of the crossing on Wednesday.
They have been amongst some 335 international nationals who capable of cross after a Qatar and US-brokered deal was struck between Israel, Egypt and Hamas.
Following the newest opening which allowed British nationals to go away, the Foreign Office stated it would “work closely” with Egyptian and Israeli authorities to “ensure the crossing stays open so all British nationals can get to safety in the coming days”.
The Foreign Office has offered the Israeli and Egyptian authorities with an inventory of British nationals and their dependants, prioritised by medical vulnerability.
Border Force officers deployed in Egypt to assist UK nationals have been bolstered by the arrival of a fast deployment staff from the Foreign Office and psychosocial help consultants from the British Red Cross.
On Wednesday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak used a name with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to thank him for his efforts in serving to the primary British nationals to go away by means of the Rafah border.
Read extra:
What is the Rafah crossing and who controls it?
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It comes as 76 wounded folks from Gaza have been allowed to go away by way of the crossing on Wednesday. They have since arrived at a hospital in Egypt.
The diplomatic efforts are happening as Israeli forces proceed to advance by means of the Palestinian territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the nation’s troops had pushed by means of the outskirts of Gaza City.
Gaza’s well being ministry has stated the variety of folks killed by Israel within the territory for the reason that battle started has risen to 9,061, up from 8,796 on Wednesday.
Among the lifeless have been 3,760 youngsters and a pair of,326 girls, the ministry added.
Official Israeli sources stated on Wednesday that 1,400 folks have been killed in Israel for the reason that battle broke out.
More than 200 hostages taken from Israel are being held by Hamas in Gaza because the battle approaches its fourth week.
Source: information.sky.com”