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Egypt Says to Help Evacuate 'About 7,000' Gaza Foreign Nationals

A picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip on October 15, 2023, shows smoke billowing after Israeli bombardment of an area in the north of the Palestinian enclave. (AFP)
A picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip on October 15, 2023, shows smoke billowing after Israeli bombardment of an area in the north of the Palestinian enclave. (AFP)
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Egypt Says to Help Evacuate 'About 7,000' Gaza Foreign Nationals

A picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip on October 15, 2023, shows smoke billowing after Israeli bombardment of an area in the north of the Palestinian enclave. (AFP)
A picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip on October 15, 2023, shows smoke billowing after Israeli bombardment of an area in the north of the Palestinian enclave. (AFP)

Egypt will help evacuate "about 7,000" foreigners and dual nationals from the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

For the first time after weeks of deadly fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants since the Hamas attacks of October 7, the Rafah border crossing opened on Wednesday to let people out of Gaza.

In a meeting with foreign diplomats, assistant foreign minister Ismail Khairat said Egypt was preparing "to facilitate the reception and evacuation of foreign citizens from Gaza through the Rafah crossing".

Khairat said that involved "about 7,000" people, representing "more than 60" nationalities, according to AFP.

The statement did not offer specific details or a timeline for the Egyptian evacuation plan.

Egyptian officials said 76 wounded Palestinians and 335 foreign passport holders had crossed into Egypt on Wednesday.

Among those who crossed were 31 Austrians, four Italians, five French nationals and some Germans, their governments said.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said US citizens had also crossed from Gaza but declined to give a number.

The health ministry in Gaza has said intense Israeli bombardment has killed nearly 8,800 people in Gaza, two-thirds of them women and children, since the fighting erupted after the October 7 attacks that Israeli officials say left 1,400 people dead.

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Lebanon: Aoun Says No Solution for Israel’s Violations Except Through Diplomacy

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
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Lebanon: Aoun Says No Solution for Israel’s Violations Except Through Diplomacy

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated commitment to dialogue to address Lebanon’s long-standing dispute with Israel’s violation and occupation in south Lebanon, saying that it can only be addressed through “diplomacy”.
He reiterated "the importance of diplomatic solutions in resolving conflicts, as the Lebanese people have grown weary of wars”, a Presidency statement quoted Aoun as saying on Friday.
Aoun’s remarks come amid support from the Higher Islamic Shiite Council for the his approach to addressing the issue of Hezbollah’s arms through dialogue.
“Diplomatic efforts may not yield immediate results, but we are working daily with international parties, away from the media spotlight, to achieve the desired outcome”, said Aoun during his visit to the Economic, Social and Environmental Council.
The Lebanese president’s comments come amid heated political debate over the future of Hezbollah’s weapons and the call to centralize arms under state authority. Last week, Aoun reiterated his determination to make sure the state has a monopoly over weapons.

Aoun’s strategy to address the issue of Hezbollah’s arms garnered the support of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council. “Let the issue be addressed through calm dialogue away from media and political exploitations. Let the decision be a unifying national one away from submissions to external demands”, said Sheikh Ali al-Khatib, vice-president of the Higher Shiite Council.
Aoun had earlier reaffirmed that communication between the presidency and Hezbollah remains active, with tangible results on the ground.

He also highlighted that he and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri are in agreement on all matters, particularly the goal of placing weapons solely under the control of the state.

Disarming Hezbollah has emerged as a key condition in ongoing discussions surrounding Israel’s potential withdrawal from the remaining five disputed points it occupies in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have linked any pullout to assurances that Hezbollah’s military presence near the border will be curbed, citing security concerns.

For its part, Lebanon maintains that full Israeli withdrawal is a prerequisite for lasting stability, but internal divisions over Hezbollah’s role complicate negotiations. While President Joseph Aoun and others advocate for addressing the group’s arms through national dialogue, critics warn that tying disarmament to Israeli withdrawal risks prolonging the deadlock.