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80 Brits still trapped in Gaza after exit to Egypt slammed shut over weekend

AROUND 80 Brits remained trapped inside Gaza last night after the only passage out of the besieged enclave slammed shut over the weekend.

More than half of an estimated 200 who were in the Strip when war broke out have made it to safety.

Distraught Palestinians look for survivors at the Al-Maghazi camp

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Distraught Palestinians look for survivors at the Al-Maghazi campCredit: AP
Hamza Yousaf's family were reunited after they managed to cross into Egypt

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Hamza Yousaf’s family were reunited after they managed to cross into EgyptCredit: HUMZA YOUSAF/UNPIXS

But the rest were still stuck on the Gaza side of the border after the Rafah crossing was closed in a row over the safety of injured patients being transferred to an Egyptian field hospital.

The Foreign Office was working to secure the reopening of the crossing.

Those who made it out include the in-laws of Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf who were yesterday back in the UK.

Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, from Dundee, had been trapped in Gaza while visiting relatives.

Mr Yousaf posted a photo of the family reunion in Scotland but said his father-in-law was heartbroken at saying goodbye to his relatives in Gaza.

Another person facing the difficult prospect of leaving family members behind said those with Palestinian heritage were treated like “second-class citizens”.

In Gaza, the bombardment continued yesterday — although there was a four-hour evacuation window allowing people to safely move to the south of the Strip.

The Israel Defence Forces ceased shelling of the area around the main highway.

But Hamas claimed 45 died in an air strike on the Al-Maghazi refugee camp.

Yesterday, the IDF produced yet more evidence that Hamas places its military hardware in civilian areas.

The IDF revealed intelligence that showed a video of an underground entrance from the Sheikh Hamad Hospital in Gaza, which connected to the terror group’s tunnel networks.

The revelation came after a Sun on Sunday investigation showed a rocket launcher next to a water desalination plant.


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