White House: Over 300 American Citizens Have Exited Gaza

Jonathan Finer, Deputy National Security Advisor at the White House, stated on Sunday, November 5, that over 300 American citizens have exited Gaza. In an interview with CBS News, this White House diplomat mentioned that there are still other American citizens in Gaza, and the Biden administration is working to evacuate them from this war-torn strip. Finer did not disclose the exact number of American citizens who have yet to leave Gaza. He also emphasized that the Biden administration is making significant efforts to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated last week that nearly 400 American citizens, along with their families, totaling about 1,000 people, are seeking to exit Gaza. The evacuation of injured Palestinians and foreign passport holders through the Rafah crossing to Egypt has been suspended since Saturday, but officials from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have said that efforts to resume their evacuation from Gaza continue. Following Hamas's deadly attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in over 1,400 deaths and more than 240 hostages taken, the Gaza Strip has been under intense and continuous attacks by the Israeli army. Health officials in Gaza, which is managed by Hamas, reported that the number of Palestinian deaths due to the attacks has reached 9,770. The Persian section of Voice of America cannot independently verify the figures provided by Hamas. Israel has repeatedly stated that it targets Hamas positions in Gaza and that this group, supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, uses Palestinian civilians as 'human shields.' The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Australia, Israel, and several other countries have listed Islamic Jihad and Hamas as terrorist organizations. Initial estimates suggest that the cost of the Gaza war for Israel is 'around $51 billion.' Qatar: The release of hostages in Gaza requires 'a period of calm.' Blinken emphasized America's commitment to delivering humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza during a meeting with Abbas. Netanyahu, a minister who had proposed the option of nuclear bombing in Gaza, has been suspended from attending cabinet meetings. Blinken stated that a ceasefire would benefit Hamas. The war in Gaza continues; there has been limited progress in U.S. efforts for a ceasefire. Protesters in Washington D.C. and London have called for an immediate ceasefire.