The Government insisted on Thursday it was doing everything possible to get Britons out of besieged Gaza as concerns grew that hardly any were in the first wave permitted to cross by Egypt.
An inaugural passage of more than 400 civilians across the Rafah crossing into Egypt took place on Wednesday, following weeks of Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory triggered by cross-border massacres by Hamas terrorists.
Two Britons were listed by Egypt as part of the first wave. But one of those named - Liverpool doctor Abdelkader Hammad - told the BBC that he was turned back at the border. "It's a little frustrating. We don't know what's going on,” he said.
Cabinet minister Michelle Donelan said the Foreign Office was making “strong representations” to Egypt over the fate of some 200 Britons trapped in Gaza. Those with medical conditions are understood to be on a priority list sent from London, but the Egyptians have so far prioritised foreign aid workers.
“We've got people on the ground that are trying their very best to get our British nationals out as quickly as we possibly can to safety,” Ms Donelan told LBC.
“This is a top priority for the government, getting those British nationals home,” the secretary of state for science and technology added.
“I can only begin to imagine what they've been through and what their families back here are going through, waiting for them in anticipation,” she said.
Britons stuck in Gaza include relatives of Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf. Birmingham-based surgeon Ahmad Abou-Foul said his brother Mohammed remained trapped in the territory with 15 other members of their family - and that no further Britons were listed by Egypt on the exit list for Thursday.
“It's a very horrific situation, it’s becoming worse on a day-to-day basis,” Ahmad told the BBC Today programme.
“There’s still daily struggles to get drinking water and food, especially with very young children - the youngest is four months old. And the ongoing danger to life with lots of bombardments. Anything can happen at any time. So it's a very, very difficult situation.”
The Foreign Office said only that an unspecified number of Britons had got out on Wednesday and Egypt would open the border going forward “for controlled and time-limited periods”.
Rafah is the only way to get people out of and aid in to Gaza, with two other crossings controlled by Israel shut indefinitely as the country pursues a ground offensive against Hamas in reprisal for the October 7 attacks.
With Israeli troops advancing on Gaza City and international anger growing over the death toll among Palestinian civilians, President Joe Biden gave his strongest backing yet to a humanitarian "pause".
White House officials said a lull in the fighting would allow more aid to get into Gaza and create a chance for more hostages to be freed by Hamas.
Israel has refused to allow fuel in, accusing Hamas of siphoning off supplies for military purposes.
Only hours of electricity remained at Gaza City's largest hospital, Shifa, according to its director, Mohammed Abu Salmia. He pleaded for "whoever has a litre of diesel in his home" to donate it.
