Summary
More than 400 people have left Gaza as the Rafah crossing to Egypt opens to civilians for the first time in more than three weeks.

335 foreign passport holders and 76 injured Gazans have been able to leave so far, Palestinian officials say.

British and US passport holders are among those who have exited the territory, according to officials.

US President Joe Biden says the opening of the crossing is the result of "intense and urgent diplomacy".

In Gaza, phone and internet services are completely cut, the provider Paltel says.

The BBC World Service is launching an emergency radio service for Gaza on MW 639kHz, daily at 1500GMT from Friday.

Israel has been bombing Gaza since the 7 October Hamas attacks that killed 1,400 people with 239 people kidnapped as hostages.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 8,700 people have been killed since Israel's retaliatory bombing began.

Source: BBC

BDST: 0928 HRS, NOV 02, 2023
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