Family of stranded woman say Brits fleeing Gaza being 'used as bargaining chips'

04 November 2023 , 22:14

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Zaynab Wandawi, a British national born in Salford, who was turned away again at the Rafah crossing again on Saturday (Image: PA)

The family of a British woman who was prevented from passing through the Rafah crossing twice have said that foreign nationals in Gaza are being "used as bargaining chips".

Zaynab Wandawi, 29, from Salford in Greater Manchester, had travelled to Gaza at the beginning of October with her British Palestinian husband and relatives for a family member's wedding, arriving just days before the Israel-Hamas war erupted.

Ms Wandawi, an English language teacher, and a group of 12 family members - including ten British nationals - attempted to cross the border into Egypt on Wednesday, but were told their names were not on the list.

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Zaynab travelled to Gaza with family for a wedding just days before the conflict broke out (PA)

The family first attempted to cross the border into Egypt on Wednesday, but were told their names were not on the list (PA)

The group were told their names were on the list to cross into Egypt on Saturday, but were agonisingly turned away from the border again following a disagreement between the Palestinian and Israeli authorities in control of the crossing, which resulted in it being shut.

The Foreign Office said the temporary closure of the Rafah crossing was "disappointing" and it was pressing for the key border post to be reopened. Ms Ali-Faten, 52, from Prestwich, north Manchester, said: "It seems now that they're being used as a bargaining chip, the foreign nationals." 

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She said she received a voice note from her daughter and a "one-minute phone call" explaining that foreign nationals trapped in Gaza would not be leaving until the ambulances carrying the sick and injured left first.

Zaynab's mum said 'every single day has been a living nightmare' while her daughter is stuck in Gaza (AFP via Getty Images)

Ms Ali-Faten said "every single day has been a living nightmare" and her daughter sounded "so deflated" hearing the news they would not be able to leave Gaza. She said: "When I saw that her name on the list this morning I was absolutely ecstatic. I thought, this is the end of the nightmare, I'm reaching the end of this chapter.

"She (Ms Wandawi) called me, she couldn't get through properly so she sent me a voice message and her voice was just so deflated. She said, 'we're back home now, we weren't allowed to leave and this is the reason why'. It just continues the turmoil and the horror that we're facing."

The mum added that it is "very painful" to see footage emerging from Gaza, and that as a parent "you know your child is amongst those that are being bombed". Ms Ali-Faten said she believes the Foreign Office is "not doing enough to advocate for the citizens trapped in Gaza" and needs to "do more to be a part of the discussion and the mediation". 

She said if anything happens to her family members, she felt the Government would "carry that responsibility", and that other than passing on their names to authorities "they are doing nothing for the British nationals that are getting bombed every single day".

A spokesperson from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: "We are disappointed that the Rafah crossing has been temporarily closed today. This continues to be a complex and challenging situation and we are using all diplomatic channels to press for its reopening in coordination with our international partners. 

"We remain in contact with British Nationals in the region to provide them with the latest information. It is vital that the safe passage of people, including all foreign nationals, and humanitarian aid can continue."

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas