200 Brits trying to flee Gaza Strip — with Border Force on standby to extract them
ABOUT 200 Brits are trying to flee the Gaza Strip — with Border Force on standby in Egypt to extract them.
There are hopes of a deal to open the Rafah border crossing into Gaza — re-opened briefly for the first time last week to let limited aid through.
The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is the only way to leave the Gaza strip, without crossing into Israel, by land.
The UK and US governments are pushing Israel for a pause in the bombing to get more aid in and foreign citizens out.
A swarm of Israeli tanks stormed into northern Gaza last night to “prepare the battlefield” as Netanyahu vowed to press ahead with the invasion, which could begin as early as this week.
Meanwhile Israeli forces have bombarded the strip with relentless airstrikes in an effort to attack Hamas, killing thousands.
PM Rishi Sunak said: “We’re very keen to bring them out and bring them home.
“When the moment arises we’ll be ready to take it quickly.
“For that to happen there needs to be a safer environment, which of course necessitates specific pauses.”
“Alongside aid, we also want to try and get our British nationals out of Gaza, for the hostages to be released,” Mr Sunak said.
“And that is why we supported the resolution at the United Nations yesterday which, among many other things, mentioned that,” he added.