Rafah crossing opens with trapped foreign nationals set to leave Gaza

Netanyahu claims Israel will ‘resign Hamas to the dustbin of history’

Up to 500 foreign passport holders will pass the Rafah border crossing from Gaza to Egypt after Qatar mediated an agreement between Cairo, Israel and Hamas in coordination with the US to allow for the movement of foreign passport holders and Palestinians severely injured in Gaza.

The country will also take in 81 wounded people from the besieged Gaza Strip and treat them in its hospitals, Gaza’s General Authority for Crossings and Borders told the New York Times.

It is not clear how long the Rafah border crossing will remain open for evacuation. Earlier, the Israeli military admitted to launching a wide-scale airstrike on the densely inhabited Jabalia refugee camp where potentially “dozens” of civilians have been killed.

During a briefing attended by The Independent, Israeli officials defended the attack and claimed the operation led to the killing of Ibrahim Biari, the commander of Hamas’s Central Jabalia Battalion. However, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem denied any senior commander was in the camp at the time of the strike.

At least 11 Israeli soldiers died in Gaza fighting yesterday, the biggest one-day loss for the IDF since the Hamas attack on 7 October.

Meanwhile, Gaza again plunged into a communication blackout today after two providers Paltel and Jawwal reported a “complete disruption” of services in the region.

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Breaking: Qatar brokers deal between Egypt, Hamas and Israel for limited Gaza evacuations, say sources

Qatar has mediated an agreement between Egypt, Israel and Hamas, in coordination with the US, to allow for the movement of foreign passport holders and some critically injured people out of besieged Gaza, a source briefed on deal told Reuters today.

Namita Singh1 November 2023 07:02

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Israel Foreign Ministry celebrates ‘hero’ female soldiers who captured and killed ‘terrorists’

Israel has released a video celebrating their female soldiers’ exploits in the war with Hamas

One Lieutenant Colonel named simply O’ was hailed for capturing 15 terrorists as others fought in tanks and police stations.

A montage released by the Israel Foreign Ministry on Wednesday shows women who fought in pyjamas, protected Israeli kibbutz from attacks and carried children to safety.

Barney Davis1 November 2023 11:00

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Campaigners project ‘Ceasefire Now’ onto Houses of Parliament last night

Campaigners beamed a message demanding a ceasefire in Gaza on to the side of the Houses of Parliament last night.

The message urged politicians to “Stop the war on children” in a powerful display.

It came as Palestinian music and chants including “ceasefire now” could be heard from as hundreds staged a sit-in protest at Liverpool Street station.

Campaigners project ‘Ceasefire Now’ onto Houses of Parliament

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the protest would have “been of concern to many people”.

“I’ve been in contact with @BTP and will be meeting officers later this week. Everyone should feel safe when using our rail network,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Barney Davis1 November 2023 10:53

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Hundreds fleeing Gaza gather at border as Egypt opens Rafah crossing for first time since 7 October

Images and videos at the border showed crowds of people carrying their belongings and cars moving through the gates towards the Egyptian side, with ambulances carrying wounded Palestinians.

Until now no one has been allowed to leave Gaza through the Rafah crossing, except for four hostages released by Hamas militants since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on 7 October.

Barney Davis1 November 2023 10:45

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More details released of Egyptian makeshift hospitals set up to welcome Gaza evacuees

Medical sources in Egypt’s Sinai region, which borders Gaza, said a field hospital of four tents, each containing 20 beds, and 12 medical caravans had been set up in Sheikh Zuweid, 15km (9 miles) from Rafah.

(REUTERS)

Hospitals in Sheikh Zuweid and Al-Arish, a town a little further away, were also preparing to admit Gazan patients, with more difficult cases expected to be sent further out to Ismailia, the sources said.

A source at the border said 40 ambulances were at the crossing to take part in the evacuation operations.

In addition, 70 aid trucks were in the Rafah area, going through the process of checks required before they can go into Gaza, under an existing agreement with Israel.

Barney Davis1 November 2023 10:38

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Deputy PM rejects ceasefire calls

Deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden has said Israel is fighting “a just war” in Gaza as he rejected calls for a ceasefire in the conflict.

Barney Davis1 November 2023 10:19

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Horror footage shows paramedics dodging bombs in Gaza

Terrifying footage depicts the dangers humanitarian workers face as they risk their lives to save people in the Gaza strip.

This video, released as part of the #notatarget campaign shows a glimpse of the terror that paramedics have been experiencing for over three weeks due to the continuous aggression on Gaza.

Since Oct 7, the bombing of the Gaza Strip has resulted in 73 healthcare workers being killed, with 57 healthcare facilities attacked.

Of these healthcare workers, 16 were killed while on duty.

Barney Davis1 November 2023 10:17

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Britons likely to leave Gaza ‘in stages’, says UK foreign ministry

British nationals will be evacuated from besieged Gaza in stages over the coming days, the foreign office has said.

“We understand the (Rafah) crossing will be open for controlled and time-limited periods to allow specific groups of foreign nationals and the seriously wounded to leave,” Britain’s foreign office said in a post on X.

“It is therefore likely the departure of British nationals from Gaza will take place in stages over the coming days.”

Barney Davis1 November 2023 10:07

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Victims of Hamas – Israel conflict allowed to cross into Egypt

The first group of injured evacuees from the Gaza strip entered Egypt on Wednesday via ambulances through the Rafah crossing, Reuters is reporting.

(AP)

Egypt has agreed to bring in 81 of the most badly wounded to its soil on Wednesday, the border authority in Gaza said.

The death toll of Palestinians in the continuing Israel’s war on the region has reached 8,525, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said.

(AP)

More than 122 Palestinians have also been killed in the occupied West Bank in violence and Israeli raids, officials said.

Barney Davis1 November 2023 09:59

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Hamas claims 7 hostages killed in Jabalia refugee camp after Israeli strike

Hamas fighters the al-Qassam Brigades are claiming that seven civilian hostages were killed in Israeli strikes on Jabalia refugee camp, including three foreign passport holders, Reuters reports.

Hamas, an armed Islamist group that governs Gaza, has so far released four civilians among the 239 believed to be held.

The group said at least 50 people were killed and 400 wounded in the attack.

Barney Davis1 November 2023 09:24

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