Trapped Britons race to escape Gaza - The Leader podcast

There’s a growing humanitarian crisis at the crossing point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt as more than a million people, including many Britons, desperately head south to flee air raids and a threatened imminent Israeli invasion.

Rafah border crossing is currently the Palestinians’ only route out of the enclave, with Hamas, Egypt and Israel all having a degree of control over who can pass through it.

Anthony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said on Sunday the crossing would open to allow aid in and evacuation of some foreign passport holders - but Cairo says Tel Aviv’s not cooperating.

Now, thousands of people have gathered at the border in a bid to flee Gaza, which has been cut off since Hamas gunmen launched waves of deadly, torturous terror attacks and hostage snatches in Israel to spark the crisis.

Foreign secretary James Cleverly says around 10 British hostages are understood to be held by Hamas.

It came as a United Nations official warned that Gaza is “running out of life” with dwindling food and water.

Also, on Monday, Israel evacuated civilians living in villages close to the border after Hezbollah paramilitaries attacked its army posts and a village on Sunday, sparking retaliatory air strikes.

Plus, Rishi Sunak visits London Jewish school and arrests after pro-Palestine march in the capital.

For the latest, The Leader podcast’s joined by the Evening Standard’s political editor Nicholas Cecil.

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