Foreign nationals cross into Egypt from Gaza on Thursday
More foreign nationals have made their way out of Gaza and into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, with 341 having crossed on Thursday, an Egyptian border official told CNN — a figure that includes American citizens.
It's unclear what nationalities are held by the others who have crossed, but some countries have confirmed their own citizens transited the Rafah crossing on Thursday.
The Egyptian official said the border is closed and will not accept any more people evacuating from Gaza on Thursday.
United States: Between 20 and 25 American citizens arrived Thursday on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing from Gaza, an Egyptian border official told CNN.
Hungary: Eight Hungarian citizens, along with two of their Palestinian family members, have evacuated from Gaza through the Rafah crossing into Egypt, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in a live video statement on Thursday.
Szijjártó added that they were two families and they crossed the border a “few hours ago.”
Italy: A 5-year-old Italian girl and her Palestinian mother left Gaza through the Rafah crossing on Thursday, Italy's foreign ministry said in a statement. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he was "particularly happy for the positive outcome," noting the girl's 6th birthday is on Friday.
Netherlands: The first Dutch nationals and their immediate family have left the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a post on social media on Thursday.
Rutte added that a team from the foreign ministry met the Dutch nationals at the border crossing.
“I am grateful to Egypt for the crucial role they played in this, and for receiving and treating the injured,” said Rutte, adding that he also wanted to thank Qatar “for their mediation in facilitating the departure of foreign nationals who were stuck in Gaza.”
Spain: Between 140 and 170 Spanish citizens and their families are expected to be evacuated from Gaza on Thursday or Friday, acting Defense Minister Margarita Robles said on Thursday morning.
"The latest report I got is that Israeli and Egyptian authorities are calling the different countries in alphabetical order, and everything is prepared in Cairo to travel and get them. We don’t know exactly when, but it could be today or tomorrow,” Robles told journalists at Torrejon Air Base.
The minister also said one Spanish citizen evacuated on Wednesday.
Some background: The exodus of the foreign nationals is the result of a deal announced Wednesday brokered by Qatar between Israel, Hamas and Egypt, in coordination with the US, that allows for the departure of those individuals, alongside critically injured civilians from Gaza, according to sources familiar with the talks. The agreement is separate from any hostage negotiations, the source added.
CNN's Sharon Braithwaite, Claudia Rebaza, Eve Brennan and Boglarka Kosztolanyi contributed reporting to this post.
