Liverpool family's relief as surgeon makes it out of Gaza

Salim (centre) spoke of his relief after his father (left) made it over the border

A surgeon who was trapped in Gaza for almost a month amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas has managed to leave, his family have said.

Dr Abdelkadar Hammad, who lives in Liverpool, was among a number of British nationals who were able to exit via the Rafah crossing into Egypt on Thursday.

His family have since spoken of their "overriding relief".

About 200 British nationals are believed to be in Gaza.

Routes in and out of the region have been closed since Hamas - which is proscribed as a terrorist group in the UK - attacked Israel on 7 October, killing more than 1,400 people and taking at least 239 hostage.

Israel has since carried out thousands of air and artillery strikes on Gaza.

Mr Hammad was among thousands of people who gathered at the border on Wednesday to try to cross into Egypt.

After a long wait, he eventually did so on Thursday.

His son Salim told BBC North West Tonight: "We really didn't dare to hope that he was finally going to get out.

"We finally got the news when he gave us a call and said 'I've made it through'.

"We felt overriding relief."

Mohammed Ghalayini, who was visiting relatives in Gaza, has said he is "struggling" to sleep and eat as he shelters in Khan Yunis

But many British nationals remain trapped, with Manchester scientist Mohammed Ghalayini among them.

Mr Ghalayini, 44, who lives in Manchester, was visiting relatives in Gaza on 7 October.

Mr Ghalayini and his family have since had to move several times within Gaza and have sought shelter in Khan Yunis.

He told the BBC that he had attempted to cross into Egypt on Wednesday, but was turned away.

Saying he had since made the decision to stay, he explained: "I don't want to leave people behind. I think it's very important for me to stay to support my friends, my family, my community in this fight for survival."