Gaza: Biden Announces Evacuation Of 74 Americans

US President Joe Biden delivered an update on Thursday, sharing that 74 American citizens with dual nationality have been successfully evacuated from the Gaza Strip to Egypt as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues to unfold.

In a meeting with Dominican President Luis Abinader in the Oval Office, President Biden conveyed the positive news, stating, "Good news, we got out today 74 American folks, dual citizens." The evacuation efforts come as the Rafah border crossing into Egypt opened on Wednesday, offering a lifeline for wounded Palestinians and individuals with dual nationality who are seeking to escape the ongoing Israeli bombardment. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby later provided additional details, saying, "So far, 74 US citizens and their family members have arrived on the Egyptian side. I want to stress that these numbers are changing in real-time." In addition to the 74 evacuees mentioned, five Americans had departed the day before. It's essential to note that the situation remains fluid, and the number of evacuees may continue to change. As part of the broader evacuation efforts, hundreds of other foreigners and dual nationals also left Gaza on Thursday. Egypt has expressed its intention to help evacuate up to 7,000 foreigners through the Rafah crossing. The Palestinian side of the border post reported that approximately 100 individuals were able to depart on Thursday. The evacuation of American dual nationals and other foreign citizens is a critical humanitarian response amid the ongoing conflict, with governments and organizations working tirelessly to ensure the safety of those in the affected region.