Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her.
Clutching suitcases and foreign passports, on stretchers and in strollers, civilians gathered in their hundreds to cross through the Rafah border into Egypt on Wednesday. They were the first to make it out of the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ surprise terror attack and the ensuing Israeli bombardment and siege on the Palestinian enclave. One man, his leg apparently amputated, said goodbye to his loved ones, accepting their kisses on his cheeks and forehead.
The Palestinian side of the crossing opened to foreign nationals in the morning, allowing people to gather in a holding area where they remained for a several hours as officials moved through the task of processing their paperwork. Some families could be seen smiling, holding their children’s hands as they moved through the gate. It was just the start of a lengthy journey that included being processed through entry procedures in addition to actually moving through the crossing.
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