Some foreign nationals are able to leave Gaza today for the first time since the war started

Dozens of people entered the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt on Wednesday, in what appeared to be the first time foreign passport holders have been allowed to leave the besieged territory since the start of the Israel-Hamas war more than three weeks ago.

Hundreds have gathered at the crossing at different times in recent weeks, but have not been allowed out due to disagreements among Egypt, Israel and Hamas.

But an agreement appeared to have been reached Wednesday. The Palestinian crossing authority said more than 400 foreign passport holders would be permitted to leave for Egypt, as would some wounded people.

Egypt has said it will not accept an influx of Palestinian refugees because of fears Israel will not allow them to return to Gaza after the war.

Dozens of people could be seen entering the Rafah crossing — the only one currently operating — and ambulances carrying wounded Palestinians exited on the Egyptian side. More than 80 Palestinians were being brought from Gaza to Egypt on Wednesday for medical treatment. Ambulances were seen entering the Rafah crossing from the Egyptian side, and a field hospital has been set up in the nearby town of Sheikh Zuweid.

CBC News has seen a list from the Palestinian border authority of names potentially in line to leave Gaza on Wednesday, which includes foreign nationals from several countries and non-governmental organizations, but no North Americans yet.

Global Affairs Canada said Tuesday that it was in contact with 460 Canadian citizens in Gaza, and dozens of others in West Bank.

"We continue to work around the clock to secure a window for Canadians to exit Gaza," Global Affairs said. "We are communicating directly with Canadians, giving them the latest information regarding the situation and any potential windows for possible exit at the Rafah border crossing."

The Palestinian border authority said more than 400 foreign passport holders would be permitted to leave Gaza on Wednesday. Egypt has said it will not accept an influx of Palestinian refugees because of fears Israel will not allow them to return to Gaza after the war.

Meanwhile, communication was being restored in Gaza after Palestinians reported another widespread outage of internet and phone service in Gaza for several hours early Wednesday.

"Even the potentially life-saving act of calling an ambulance becomes impossible," said Jessica Moussan, an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) spokesperson.

Humanitarian aid agencies have warned that such blackouts severely disrupt their work in an already dire situation in Gaza, where more than half of the population of 2.3 million Palestinians has been displaced and basic supplies are running low more than three weeks into the war triggered by Hamas's Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel, which left about 1,400 dead, including several Canadians. Palestinian militants also abducted around 240 people, with four hostages released thus far, while continuing to fire rockets into Israel.

More than 8,700 Palestinians have been killed in the war, mostly women and minors, the Gaza Health Ministry said Tuesday, without providing a breakdown between civilians and fighters. 

The Hamas-run government in Gaza said Israeli airstrikes have hit apartment buildings in a refugee camp near Gaza City for a second day in a row, causing many deaths and injuries. Al-Jazeera television, which is still reporting from northern Gaza, aired footage of devastation and of several wounded people, including children, being brought to a nearby hospital.