As we’ve been reporting, there are thousands of people stuck in Gaza who are trying to get out. This includes dozens of British citizens – like Icel Chumlukh’s family.
Speaking to the BBC News channel from Cairo, he says his wife, one-year-old son, and 13-year-old stepdaughter are some of those trapped and struggling to get out.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed that his wife and son have been “approved and accepted to leave Gaza from Egypt”, Chumlukh says, but they haven’t yet made it out.
They initially waited at the Rafah crossing, before being prevented from leaving and then asked to turn back. “It’s not easy to get to the crossing or to get back to the UN school where they’re staying,” Chumlukh says.
An added complication is that his stepdaughter, Dana, is not on the list of people allowed to leave the enclave, he says.
They were at the crossing when Chumlukh spoke to them earlier today – his wife refuses to leave the enclave without Dana.
“She says we either leave together, or we stay in Gaza together. This is the situation I’m in.”
