The evacuation in recent days was the result of “pretty intense negotiations with all parties involved in this conflict,” White House deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer told CBS.
Despite these efforts, the United States believes that a significant number of Americans remain in the Gaza Strip, he added.
“Obviously, this is a top priority that we’re going to continue to address until every American who wants to leave is able to do so,” Finer said.
The Rafah border crossing from the Gaza Strip to Egypt opened on Wednesday after weeks of war, allowing wounded Palestinians and dual nationals desperate to escape Israeli bombardment to leave.
Egypt said the country would help evacuate some 7,000 foreign nationals and dual nationals from the war-torn Gaza Strip, but Hamas said late Saturday it was halting the evacuation of foreigners to Egypt after Israel refused to allow some wounded Palestinians to be transferred to Egyptian hospitals.
A senior White House official accused Hamas on Friday of abusing a US deal to open a border crossing to force its fighters out of the Gaza Strip.
The official said Hamas has provided a list of wounded Palestinians to be evacuated, with a third of the names being Hamas members and fighters.
The White House previously said nearly 80 US citizens and their families were evacuated on Wednesday and Thursday.
Israel began bombing the Gaza Strip after Hamas gunmen stormed the border on October 7, killing 1,400 people. people, mostly civilians.
The Ministry of Health of the Gaza Strip, controlled by the Hamas group, reported that more than 9,700 Palestinians have died in the Palestinian territory since the start of the war with Israel. people, mostly women and children.
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2024-10-04 00:51:00
