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Despite Rishi Sunak’s promise that the crossings are a top priority, it is unlikely that any Britons will be permitted to leave Gaza today.
None of the individuals with a British passport are currently listed on the daily updated roster of people permitted to enter Egypt.
Individuals from countries other than Belgium and the United States are included in the list.
The exclusion of British individuals was announced following a statement from a government official stating that “both the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister have repeatedly emphasized that our top priority is to evacuate British citizens as expeditiously as possible.”
Two British humanitarian workers were able to escape through the Rafah border crossing on Wednesday, along with hundreds of other foreign citizens.
Many severely wounded Palestinians were permitted to exit the Gaza Strip for the first time since the conflict between Israel and Hamas commenced almost a month ago.
Approximately 200 British individuals at the Foreign Office, according to Cabinet minister Michelle Donelan.
Rishi Sunak expressed gratitude to Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the president of Egypt, for facilitating the safe departure of the first British citizens through the Rafah border. This crossing is the only one to Gaza that is not under Israeli control.
According to Ms Donelan, the Secretary of Science, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly are persisting in their endeavors to evacuate additional British citizens.
According to GB News, the Foreign Office has stated that certain individuals have successfully crossed the border and it is expected that there will be additional arrivals.
I am aware of a group of 200 individuals who hold British citizenship, and our main goal is to evacuate them as fast as possible.
However, she also highlighted the difficulties in rescuing those who are stuck in the area.
She informed Sky News that controlling the border is challenging since we do not have complete authority over it.
“The British Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have repeatedly emphasized that our highest priority is to swiftly evacuate British nationals.”
The British government’s Foreign Office has collaborated with Egyptian and Israeli authorities to finalize a roster of British citizens who wish to depart from Gaza.
Following a conversation between Mr. Sunak and the president of Egypt, No 10 stated that the opening of the Rafah crossing was welcomed. This would allow British and other foreign nationals, as well as injured Palestinians, to depart from Gaza.
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The UK’s Prime Minister expressed gratitude to President Sisi for his dedication and stated that the UK will maintain close collaboration with Egypt and Israel to ensure the safe evacuation of all British citizens from Gaza.
The leaders discussed the pressing need to boost the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and the Prime Minister provided an update on the UK’s plans for a second aid flight to assist the efforts of the Egyptian Red Crescent.
The Prime Minister and President Sisi also talked about diplomatic initiatives to free hostages being held by Hamas, avoid further conflicts in the broader Middle East, and establish lasting peace and prosperity for the Palestinian population.
The United Kingdom dispatched Border Force units to Cairo in preparation for the possibility of allowing citizens to depart from Gaza.
Source: independent.co.uk
