Scores of foreign passport holders trapped in Gaza started leaving the war-torn Palestinian territory on Nov. 1 when the Rafah crossing to Egypt was opened up for the first time since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
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Scores of foreign passport holders trapped in Gaza started leaving the war-torn Palestinian territory on Nov. 1 when the Rafah crossing to Egypt was opened up for the first time since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. / AFP/Getty Images

A first group of foreign passport holders have left Gaza.

It's the first time that that's happened since Oct. 7. They are currently inside the terminal at the Rafah border crossing and are waiting to cross into Egypt.

The Rafah border crossing into Egypt is the only land crossing in and out of Gaza, not controlled by Israel. And typically after civilians pass all the checks on the Palestinian side there, take a bus or a car a few hundred yards before they can go through to the Egyptian side and cross into Egypt.

Wounded people, along with about 500 foreign or dual nationals and aid workers are expected be allowed to leave Gaza and enter Egypt on Wednesday, according to officials in Gaza.

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We take a look at the scene:

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Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt at Rafah, Gaza Strip.
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Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt at Rafah, Gaza Strip. / AP

An injured man lies inside an ambulance waiting at the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip before receiving medical care in Egypt.
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An injured man lies inside an ambulance waiting at the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip before receiving medical care in Egypt. / AFP/Getty Images

On the other side of the Rafah crossing from Gaza into Egypt ambulances waited to evacuate critically injured people from the besieged territory, where Israeli airstrikes have killed thousands.
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On the other side of the Rafah crossing from Gaza into Egypt ambulances waited to evacuate critically injured people from the besieged territory, where Israeli airstrikes have killed thousands. / AP

A child looks through glass, as Palestinians with dual citizenship wait at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on November 1, 2023.
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A child looks through glass, as Palestinians with dual citizenship wait at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on November 1, 2023. / REUTERS

People enter the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip before crossing into Egypt.
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People enter the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip before crossing into Egypt. / AFP/Getty Images

Palestinian health ministry paramedics check the travel documents of a person waiting to cross to Egypt at the Rafah border crossing.
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Palestinian health ministry paramedics check the travel documents of a person waiting to cross to Egypt at the Rafah border crossing. / AFP via Getty Images

Ambulances with Palestinians wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip arrive at Rafah border crossing to Egypt.
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Ambulances with Palestinians wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip arrive at Rafah border crossing to Egypt. / AP

People walk through a gate to enter the Rafah border crossing to Egypt in the southern Gaza Strip.
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People walk through a gate to enter the Rafah border crossing to Egypt in the southern Gaza Strip. / AFP/Getty Images

A journalist stands by as Palestinian health ministry ambulances cross the gate to enter the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip before crossing into Egypt.
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A journalist stands by as Palestinian health ministry ambulances cross the gate to enter the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip before crossing into Egypt. / AFP/Getty Images

Crowds of people showed up on the Palestinian side of the border, including children. They gathered at the terminal separating Egypt from Gaza, many of them carrying suitcases and some with donkey-pulled carts loaded with luggage.
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Crowds of people showed up on the Palestinian side of the border, including children. They gathered at the terminal separating Egypt from Gaza, many of them carrying suitcases and some with donkey-pulled carts loaded with luggage. / AFP/Getty Images

Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt at Rafah, Gaza Strip, on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023.
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Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt at Rafah, Gaza Strip, on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. / AP