UK says over 100 Britons have left Gaza, hopeful of getting extra out
LONDON: Greater than 100 Britons have been evacuated from Gaza and the federal government hopes extra will be capable to depart, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden stated on Sunday, as he urged the reopening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
The Rafah crossing was opened for restricted evacuations for 3 days earlier this week beneath a Qatari-brokered deal aimed toward letting some overseas passport holders, their dependents and a few wounded Gazans out of the enclave.
“Over 100 UK nationals had been in a position to cross out of Gaza into Egypt by the Rafah crossing. It is rather disappointing that the crossing was closed yesterday,” Dowden informed the BBC.
“We’re partaking very carefully and we’re hopeful that the crossing will reopen once more as we speak enabling additional UK nationals to depart.”
Britain has urged humanitarian pauses in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, however has not known as for a full ceasefire, saying Israel has a proper to guard itself after Hamas launched the deadliest assault on Jews for the reason that Holocaust final month.
A minimum of a dozen Britons died within the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas, and Dowden stated there have been nonetheless 3 Britons unaccounted for, however he was unable to say whether or not they had been taken hostage.
Requested about feedback by inside minister Suella Braverman that pro-Palestinian protests in London had been “hate marches”, he stated that there had been hateful conduct in some slogans that had been chanted, particularly ones that may be interpreted as denying the correct of Israel to exist.
“What the opposite individuals attending these marches must ask themselves is: are they inadvertently standing alongside these individuals which can be preaching hate,” he stated.
Dowden added he had “grave issues” over whether or not it was applicable for extra marches to happen subsequent weekend, when commemorations for Armistice Day – the anniversary of the top of World Warfare One – are additionally deliberate.
