Efforts to allow hundreds of foreign passport holders trapped in Gaza to leave the besieged territory have stalled because of a dispute between Hamas and Egypt over the positioning of UN monitors, according to diplomats.
Western governments have been working to ensure safe passage from Gaza for foreign nationals and Palestinians with dual citizenship through its Rafah crossing with Egypt ever since Israel launched its bombardment of the Hamas-controlled strip more than three weeks ago.
Egypt had agreed to assist in the process, but wanted the UN to manage the evacuation of foreign passport holders from the hemmed-in coastal enclave, three western diplomats said.