The US Secretary of State reports that 400 Americans and their families are stranded in Gaza

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday that about 400 American citizens and their families—roughly 1,000 persons in total—are besieged in Gaza and are trying to escape.

The State Department and the top US diplomat are "focused on this intensively," according to him.

“We've been in close communication, as best we can, with Americans who are stuck in Gaza. We've had about 5,500 communications that we've initiated — phone calls, emails, WhatsApp — to be in touch with them, to try to guide them as best we can, and to work for their ability to leave,” he said.

According to Blinken, there are perhaps 5,000 more foreign nationals in Gaza who likewise wish to leave.

Like other US officials, Blinken blamed Hamas for the inability of Americans to exit Gaza. If Americans and other foreigners are able to reach the Egyptian side of the Rafah border, Cairo is prepared to handle them, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller's statement from last week.