UK working on getting trapped Britons out of Gaza as humanitarian crisis unfolds

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The UK is working intensively to allow Britons trapped in Gaza to leave but the border crossing remains closed because of Egypt’s legitimate concerns, ministers said.Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said opening the Rafah crossing to allow aid into Gaza and foreign nationals to escape the humanitarian crisis unfolding there is a priority.A small convoy of 20 trucks was allowed to cross into Gaza on Saturday, but the UK and relief agencies are pushing for far greater access to the territory.“We have secured, along with other partners, the supply of humanitarian aid through the Rafah crossing but not yet foreign nationals’ – including British nationals’ – ability to leave through the Rafah crossing,” he told the BBC.But he said Egypt has “legitimate concerns” about the situation at Rafah.Egypt has faced insecurity near the border with Gaza in north-eastern Sinai, including an Islamist insurgency which began more than a decade ago, although it has been largely suppressed.Israel has ordered Gazans to move south as it carries out its retaliatory strikes on Hamas following the October 7 raids.This has increased pressure at the border crossing, which has been largely closed since the Israel-Hamas war flared up.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, writing in the Sunday Telegraph, said: “We need to see a stream of trucks rolling through that crossing to bring aid to the civilian population.“We also need to see all water supplies to Gaza restored where physically possible.“All sides should commit to the sanctity of UN installations, hospitals and shelters.“We’re working intensively with international partners to ensure that British nationals currently trapped in Gaza are also able to leave through this crossing while aid enters.”Mr