Rafah crossing to Egypt reopens, with the first foreign passport holders and ... trends now
Foreign passport holders and wounded Palestinians who were trapped in Gaza have started leaving the war-torn territory as the Rafah crossing to Egypt reopened for the first time since Hamas's bloody October 7 attacks.
Pictures show relieved families streaming out of the border gates, which have remained firmly shut to anyone entering from the besieged strip amid relentless Israeli airstrikes, which Hamas says have killed over 8,500 people.
Convoys of desperately needed aid have passed between Egypt and Gaza, which the UN has described as 'a drop in an ocean of need' - but no people have been allowed through the Rafah crossing until now.
British nationals are among those who have flocked to Gaza's southern border over the past few weeks, desperately hoping that they could be among the lucky few to cross into Egypt.
The first group of injured evacuees from the Gaza strip have entered Egypt via ambulances, according to local media.
Queues began to form early this morning at the terminal and some 545 foreigners and dual nationals along with about 90 sick and wounded were expected to leave.
Palestinians with dual citizenship wait outside the Rafah border crossing with Egypt
Relieved Palestinians cross to the Egyptian side of the border crossing with the Gaza Strip
The Rafah border crossing with Egypt. The gates have remained firmly shut to anyone entering from the besieged strip
Women smile as they leave the Gaza Strip, which has been under heavy Israeli bombardment for three weeks
The Gaza Borders and Crossings Authority earlier published the names of more than 500 foreigners and dual citizenship holders who it called to travel to Rafah in order to leave the Strip
After being allowed into the terminal area, huge queues formed around crossing booths for checks on passports and other documents
After being allowed into the terminal area, huge queues formed around crossing booths for checks on passports and other documents.
Ambulances waited on the Egyptian side to take away the wounded and sick.
The evacuations are believed to have been secured as part of a deal, mediated by Qatar, between Israel, Hamas and Egypt in coordination with the US.
The Gaza Borders and Crossings Authority earlier published the names of more than 500 foreigners and dual citizenship holders who it called to travel to Rafah in order to leave the Strip.
The zone around the terminal has been hit during Israeli air raids, with pictures showing levelled buildings in Rafah despite Israel urging
