U.S. citizens leave Gaza for Egypt as others await State Department instruction on travel options
Some of the U.S. citizens who have been trapped in Gaza since the Hamas’ attack on Israel last month have made it into Egypt while others are awaiting instruction from the Biden administration on how to leave Gaza, the State Department said on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals left Gaza through Egypt’s Rafah crossing, which for weeks has remained closed. U.S. citizens still awaiting passage will be given specific instructions on ways to leave Gaza over the next 72 hours.
The State Department estimates roughly 400 American citizens remain in Gaza. Citing operational security concerns, Miller declined to say how many Americans have crossed into Egypt.
"We are going to give them specific instructions over the next few days about where to go, when to go, and how they can get out," Miller said.
"The U.S. Embassy in Cairo is standing by to provide assistance to U.S. citizens as they enter Egypt," he added.
Miller advised the U.S. citizens who are seeking to depart to regularly check their email over the next few days. However, there have been rolling communication blackouts during the conflict.
Miller said the U.S. government has “made clear that we think Internet access is important.”
“The situation remains extremely fluid, but this has been an important breakthrough and we will keep working on it to ensure all of the U.S. citizens who wish to depart safely from Gaza can do so,” he said.
A spokesperson for State did not immediately return a request for comment on what the latest travel options entail after citizens depart Gaza.
The Biden administration has offered various ways for Americans to leave Israel, including by land, air and sea. But for those in Gaza, the process has been challenging because of Egypt’s reluctance to open the Rafah crossing, and the ongoing fighting between Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces. Miller separately noted on Monday those ongoing challenges include Hamas’ unwillingness to let foreign nationals depart until a series of demands are met.
The U.S. also facilitated evacuations in the region with charter flights, though the State Department concluded its charter flight service from Tel Aviv on Tuesday.