Hundreds of foreign nationals and dozens of seriously injured Palestinians have been permitted to leave Gaza.

This marks the first time such departures have occurred since the conflict began over three weeks ago.

The individuals exited through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, following a series of events, including the release of four hostages by Hamas and the successful rescue of an Israeli soldier.

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While this border crossing was opened, Israeli forces continued their advance deeper into Gaza, and airstrikes on Wednesday struck a refugee camp for the second time in as many days.

Furthermore, there have been challenges with communications and internet services in the region.

The main telecommunications provider, Paltel, reported a gradual restoration of services after experiencing the second major cut in five days.

Humanitarian aid agencies have expressed concerns about these blackouts, emphasizing that they severely disrupt their crucial work in the already dire situation in Gaza.

U.S. President Joe Biden weighed in on the situation, suggesting the need for a humanitarian “pause” in the Israel-Hamas conflict to facilitate the release of “prisoners.”

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Biden made this statement during a fundraiser for his 2024 reelection campaign, responding to a protester calling for a ceasefire.

Israeli ground troops have engaged in heavy fighting with militants as they advanced towards Gaza City. This offensive follows Hamas’ attack on approximately 1,400 Israelis on October 7th.