A border crossing linking Egypt and the Gaza Strip has been temporarily opened to allow a limited number of seriously injured people and foreign nationals to exit, as Israeli forces continue their ground and air offensive on the besieged enclave.
In total, some 500 people were expected to leave Gaza on Wednesday through the Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing, opened for the first time since the war began on October 7.
Egypt has prepared a field hospital in Sheikh Zuwayed, Sinai, according to reports. Ambulances could be seen waiting at the Rafah crossing.
The opening follows another day of bloodshed in Gaza in which an Israeli air raid killed at least fifty people in the Jabalia refugee camp, according to Palestinian health officials.
Communications and internet services were completely cut off again in Gaza on Wednesday, telecommunications provider Paltel said.
Israel sent its ground forces into Gaza after weeks of aerial and artillery bombardments following a surprise attack by Hamas, the group that rules the strip, on October 7.
The civilian death toll in Gaza and the desperate humanitarian conditions have sparked great concern around the world, as food, fuel, clean water and medicine run short and hospitals struggle to treat the injured.