Israeli ground forces have surrounded Gaza City amid diplomatic efforts to bring about a brief cessation of fighting with Hamas militants and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
US President Joe Biden has called for a “humanitarian pause” in the war between Israel and Hamas.
On Wednesday, the first group of foreigners to enter the Gaza Strip since the start of the war crossed the border into Egypt. On Thursday there were more.
In a meeting with Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader in the Oval Office, Biden said 74 Americans with dual citizenship were evacuated on Thursday.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that five more Americans left the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing on Wednesday.
“This is a good sign that the trajectory is going in the right direction,” Kirby said. “We want to get them all out as quickly as possible.”
He estimates there are between 1,000 and 1,200 U.S. citizens or green card holders with dual citizenship and their family members in the Gaza Strip.
The opening of the Rafah border crossing to foreign passport holders was part of an agreement between Israel, Egypt and Hamas brokered by Qatar.
