“There may be very little notice if the crossing opens, and it may only open for a limited time,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson told Newsweek.
There is growing condemnation at Israel’s order to residents in the north of Gaza to head south, as the death toll mounts following the attack by Hamas on southern Israel and the subsequent Israeli bombardments of the enclave.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have dropped flyers telling people in Gaza to evacuate their homes ahead of an anticipated invasion. It follows the Israeli pledge to destroy Hamas, which controls the strip to the west of Israel.
Egyptian officials said the southern Rafah crossing would open later on Saturday for the first time in days to allow foreigners out, according to the Associated Press. The news agency cited an unnamed official who said Israel and Palestinian militant groups had agreed to facilitate the departures.
The U.S. State Department said it was “working to secure the safe exit of U.
