Seventeen (17) Sri Lankans are among the 596 foreign and dual nationals permitted to leave Gaza via the Rafah border crossing between Palestine and Egypt, it was reported.
Sri Lanka’s Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) states that 15 out of the 17 Sri Lankans are expected to cross the Rafah border crossing into Egypt by noon today.
The SLBFE further said that the 15 Sri Lankans have been granted permission to leave Gaza.
The Sri Lankans were trapped in Gaza following the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Palestine.
According to CNN, the Gaza Borders and Crossings Authority has released a list of 596 foreign and dual nationals from 15 countries who will be allowed to leave Gaza on Thursday.
More than 500 people were allowed to leave on Wednesday when the border opened for the first time in weeks.
The ministry posted a new list of names just before 2 a.m. local time and said the people listed would need to get to the crossing by 7 a.m.
The 596 foreign and dual nationals on the list are from the following countries:
- Sri Lanka, 17
- Azerbaijan, 8
- Belgium, 50
- Bahrain, 6
- Chad, 2
- Croatia, 23
- Greece, 24
- Hungary, 20
- Italy/United Nations, 4
- North Macedonia, 4
- Mexico, 2
- Netherlands, 20
- South Korea, 5
- Switzerland, 11
- United States, 400
At least 8,805 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 7, while more than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel. (NewsWire/ File pic)