Update: First US Citizens to Leave Gaza amid Israel's War against Hamas Terrorists

Chris Mitchell : Nov 2, 2023
CBN News

"In the past 24 hours, we have informed US citizens and family members with whom we are in contact that they will be assigned specific departure dates. We have asked them to continue to monitor email regularly over the next 24 to 72 hours for specific instructions about how to exit. The situation remains extremely fluid, but this has been an important breakthrough." -Matthew Miller, State Department spokesperson

(Jerusalem, Israel) — [CBN News] US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel Friday. (Screengrab image: via CBN News)

His visit comes as Israel's ground campaign moves to encircle Gaza City, and for the first time since the war began, foreign nationals, including Americans, are getting out of Gaza.

...[Joe] Biden called Wednesday for a humanitarian "pause" in the conflict.

The State Department is helping US citizens there.

Matthew Miller, a State Department spokesperson, announced Wednesday, "In the past 24 hours, we have informed US citizens and family members with whom we are in contact that they will be assigned specific departure dates. We have asked them to continue to monitor email regularly over the next 24 to 72 hours for specific instructions about how to exit." He added, "The situation remains extremely fluid, but this has been an important breakthrough."

The State Department says there about a thousand American citizens and family members in the Gaza Strip.

Miller said, "We're working nonstop to get Americans out of Gaza as soon as safely as possible. This is the result of intense and urgent American diplomacy with our partners in the region."

...[Joe] Biden was answering a heckler in Minnesota who said, "I need you to call a cease-fire (in the fighting) right now."

Biden responded, "I think we need a pause," and clarified, "a pause means give time to get the prisoners out."

Many among Biden's base are demanding an immediate halt to the conflict.

Blinken departs for Israel and Jordan Thursday, as international criticism of Israel builds. Jordan announced it has recalled its ambassador, and some are concerned the US will ask Israel to stop its ground campaign.

On the ground, the Israeli military announced it is at the gates of Gaza City.

The Israel Defense Forces released a video of soldiers and tanks as operations intensify inside the Gaza Strip. The IDF says dozens of Hamas targets, including "observation posts, anti-tank squads and launchers, vessels and militaryoutposts" have been destroyed.

Israeli leaders warn this new phase of the war will be long and difficult.

The IDF also released an audio conversation of Hamas taking fuel for its war machine from a Gaza-based Indonesian hospital... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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