The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza is not available to outsiders

 The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza is not available to outsiders

There seems to be a disagreement about the evacuation of patients who are wounded, since foreigners are not allowed to leave Gaza via the Rafah border crossing.

In the last several days, hundreds of foreign nationals have fled into Egypt over the border.

However, according to Palestinian authorities, no dual citizens, foreign nationals, or wounded patients were let in on Saturday.

Hundreds of people arrived at the border with foreign passports, but the gate remained closed.

The BBC was informed by sources inside the Palestinian crossing authority that international passport holders are not permitted to go until a consensus has been reached over the safety of conveying wounded patients.

The officials have not yet released an official statement.

The inability of British nationals in Gaza to depart via the Rafah crossing was verified by the UK Foreign Office.

"We are dissatisfied that the Rafah crossing has been closed for some time today," a spokeswoman told the BBC.

"This continues to be a challenging and complicated situation and we are making use of all possible diplomatic means to press for its reopening in consultation with our international partners."

Many residents were able to exit Gaza on Wednesday thanks to the opening of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza.

It was their first chance to do so since the start of the conflict on October 7, when militants from Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 people.

Since then, the Israeli military has imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza, begun a huge bombing campaign, and most recently begun a ground operation in the northern part of the territory. 9,488 people have reportedly died in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Why is Gaza's lifeblood the Rafah border, and what does it mean?

Rafah borders the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt and is the southernmost point of egress from Gaza.

Manchester-born British scientist Mohammed Ghalayini, who was in Gaza on a family vacation when the conflict broke out, went to the border with his uncle earlier this week after being added by Gaza officials to the list of authorized evacuees.

"People are really afraid of what's transpiring on and so if they are offered the chance to leave, they're trying to leave," he said to the BBC.

"But getting to the border region is a struggle as well, because petroleum products are short," he said. "So you know, I saw somebody arriving on a donkey cart holding their luggage at the border."

The crossing is now the sole port of entry for humanitarian supplies, having been opened and closed several times over the years.

Since the commencement of the conflict, Israel has prohibited the entry of any fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip. Additionally, it has shut off electrical supplies, which has led UN agencies to request that fuel be let into Gaza to run essential services.

However, US special envoy David Satterfield said reporters on Saturday that there is a prearranged system in place to provide extra gasoline to Gaza should it run out.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reports that on Friday, an ambulance outside Gaza City's largest hospital was struck when it was trying to take an injured individual to the Rafah border crossing.

According to the agency, 15 persons lost their lives in the event.

Although it has not yet provided proof, the Israeli military claimed that many Hamas fighters had been slain and charged the terrorist organization, which is recognized as such by the US, UK, Israel, and other countries, of transporting militants and weapons in ambulances.