US says 400 American nationals expressed desire to leave Gaza

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US State Department said Wednesday it is in communication with 400 American nationals in the Gaza Strip who want to leave.

"There are around 400 Americans in Gaza with whom we are in communication, who have expressed a desire to leave," spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

"They have family members as well who have expressed a desire to leave. The total numbers around 1,000 people when you count both American citizens and their family members," he said.

Miller confirmed that an initial group of foreign nationals, including US citizens, left Gaza through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt as of Wednesday.

The remarks came as some critically injured Palestinians and foreign passport holders were allowed to leave Gaza through the crossing.