A diplomatic effort to evacuate U.S. citizens from Gaza faltered after Egyptian officials said they would only allow foreigners to cross the border if aid could pass in the opposite direction.
Egypt’s refusal on Saturday, confirmed by three officials and in an announcement on state television, thwarted the latest U.S. push to evacuate any of the 500 or more Americans in Gaza wishing to leave through the enclave’s southern border with Egypt.
Earlier Saturday, the U.S. had helped broker a deal between Israel and Egypt to allow U.S. citizens across the Rafah border crossing from Gaza to Egypt, according to a senior U.S. official and an Arab official. But Egypt foiled the deal.
“We can’t allow a few foreigners out and not allow humanitarian aid in for the Palestinians who will be stuck there,” one Egyptian official said.