Many countries confirm citizens leave Gaza Strip safely

Countries such as the US, UK, France and Australia confirmed that their citizens had left the Gaza Strip safely and reached Egypt through the Rafah border gate.

The British Foreign Office announced on November 1 that a number of British citizens had crossed the Rafah border into Egypt, but did not specify the number, adding that the list of citizens wishing to leave the Gaza Strip had been agreed with the Egyptian and Israeli authorities in advance.

"The border will open for a limited and controlled period, allowing foreign nationals and the seriously injured to leave," the British government said.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller announced on the same day that a number of US citizens had safely left the Gaza Strip.

President Joe Biden said earlier that US citizens were among the first group of about 1,000 foreigners to leave the Gaza Strip. He pledged to continue to get Americans out of the area safely and as soon as possible. The White House boss also thanked Qatar for working closely with the US to support negotiations and facilitate the departure of citizens from the Gaza Strip.

Foreign nationals arrive in Egypt after passing through the Rafah border crossing on November 1. Photo: AFP — Foreign nationals arrive in Egypt after passing through the Rafah border crossing on November 1. Photo: *AFP*

The first group of foreigners to pass through the Rafah border gate into Egypt also included 31 Austrian citizens, 20 Australian citizens and 5 French citizens.

Austria's foreign ministry said it was "one of the first countries whose citizens were evacuated." The group of people leaving were mainly dual nationals living in the Gaza Strip or visiting relatives, including 10 minors, the youngest a 6-year-old girl.

Egypt on November 1 opened the Rafah border crossing for the first time since the Hamas-Israel conflict began, allowing foreign passport holders to leave the Gaza Strip. The Rafah crossing had previously been open for aid convoys to enter the Gaza Strip, but no one was allowed to leave the area.