Gaza’s lifeline Rafah crossing is closed due to ‘security circumstance’ in blow for Brits still desperate to flee
THE Rafah crossing, over which hundreds have fled Gaza in recent days, has been closed in a blow to Brits trying to leave.
While at least 100 British citizens have been able to flee into Egypt over the border, dozens are still trapped there.
The crossing was closed on Wednesday because of an unspecified “security circumstance” according to US officials.
Hundreds of Americans also remain trapped in the besieged enclave amid Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas.
The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is the only way to leave the Strip without entering Israel.
It was previously closed when Israel halted fuel, food and medicine from entering the blockaded territory after Hamas terrorists stormed across the border and killed hundreds in a bloody massacre.
The border was reopened for the first time a few weeks ago to let limited aid trucks through, and since then has been used to ferry foreign nationals and Palestinian civilians into safer territory.
US official Vedant Patel on Wednesday said: “Our understanding is that given a security circumstance the Rafah border crossing remains closed today.”
“This is an incredibly fluid situation. The border crossing has opened on many instances and allowed for the safe … exit for foreign nationals who have sought it,” he added.
He said that the crossing is expected to be reopened at “regular intervals” to allow aid trucks into the Gaza Strip and to let foreign nationals out.
More than 400 US citizens have fled since people started crossing into Egypt last week.
An IDF spokesperson said in a video posted to Twitter that as of early this week 665 aid trucks have entered Gaza through the Rafah border.
According to Egyptian security sources, at least 500 people crossed the border on Tuesday.
It comes as the UK and US governments have pushed Israel for a pause in the bombing to get more aid in and foreign citizens out.
Rishi Sunak previously said around 200 British citizens trapped in Gaza had contacted the Foreign Office in an urgent plea for help.