Foreigners, wounded preparing to cross into Egypt from Gaza

Dozens of foreign passport holders and wounded civilians began to cross into Egypt from Gaza through the Rafah crossing on Wednesday amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants, the Associated Press reported.

More than 80 Palestinians were also brought in by ambulance for treatment, Egypt’s Health Ministry said, and a field hospital was set up in a town near the crossing, according to the AP.

The development comes after reports that Egypt, Israel and Hamas struck a deal to let some foreigners and wounded people leave for the first time since the war began three weeks ago. Video footage, shared by Reuters, showed evacuees at the packed border crossing.

Up to 500 foreign passport holders are expected to pass through into Egypt, Reuters reported, adding that roughly 200 people were already waiting as of Wednesday morning.

The reports of the departures come as Israel launches what it describes as a second wave of the war.

Some ground operations have begun, as Israel continues its airstrikes. The Hamas-run government in Gaza has also launched airstrikes against Israel, many of which have been blocked by the missile defense system, the Iron Dome. 

The war began on Oct. 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on the southern border of Israel, killing more than 1,400 Israelis and taking over 200 people hostage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue strikes until all of the captives are returned.

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry estimates that more than 8,500 Palestinians have been killed in subsequent attacks since the war began.