>> wherever you are around the world's are thank you for joining us here on cnn, i'm john vause in atlanta with the ongoing kupfer of -- on hamas a few hundred people holding foreign passports and dozens civilian wounded palestinians have arrived in egypt from gaza. for weeks many have been waiting on the rafah crossing with egypt. the two other border crossings into israel remain sealed. israel and egypt agreed to open the border after the u.s. and qatar brokered deal which allowed all foreign nationals and dual citizens to leave gaza. your state department believes 1000 americans and their family are stuck in gaza desperate to leave. more from joe biden. >> we're in a situation where safe passage for wounded palestinians and foreign nationals have started. american citizens -- 1000 who will see more of this process going on in the coming days. working nonstop to get americans out of gaza as soon and as safely as possible. >> aid worker was one of two americans among the 361 people who left cause on wednesday. he spoke to cnn soon after her aunt arrived in egypt. >> i think they're still frustration from many who are still there i understand the complexity of the negotiation and we are not privy to the nuances of that and so we just remain incredibly grateful but we also do call upon our government to continue evacuating other dual citizens, other americans who hopefully call for a cease-fire. from the last couple of days we were growing desperate we were hearing from her that there were limited food, they were trying to ration, people had illnesses. she was protected given her status as an aid worker, but we know that that is not the situation everyone is in. >> disagreements -- to egypt for immediate medical attention. that does not apply to wounded hamas fighters. for the second time in as many days, the refugee camp has been hit by israeli airstrikes. at least 80 people were killed according to hospital officials in gaza. u.n. human rights office says the scale of destruction and casualties could amount to war crimes. for more now on the opening on the rough across thing here is melissa bell reporting from cairo. >> a tired smile and a wave. from one of the lucky few, finally allowed to leave gaza since the war began. these finals just some of the first foreign dual nationals permitted through the rafah crossing on thursday. a deal brokered by qatar, egypt hamas that will allow all foreign angel nationals to leave the besieged enclave. also allowed to leave under the deal the first palestinians, 81 of the most severely, those desperate and enough for surgical intervention taken one by one in a convoy of ambulances to a field hospital set up a few miles away and to other hospitals in northern egypt. large crowds foreign nationals have been amassing at the border after hearing that they would be allowed out. families desperately checking to see if they were some of those lucky enough finally to get through. >> i'm an american living in gaza. we heard that the crossing was open but we discovered that it was open for specific nationalities at the moment. we have to turn back because the cellular network was down, and we weren't aware that there was a list. we hope to see our names on the list tomorrow or the next day. >> as the only crossing from gaza, -- was announced by israel. it is the only way in and out now and what has gone in has been little. a further 20 trucks arriving on wednesday, a drop in the ocean, aid organizations given the needs inside. for some here it has been days or even weeks of waiting and praying. with dwindling supplies, and fear of israeli strikes, even here in the south were civilians have been told by the idf to evacuate. nowhere in gaza is safe. so finally for small view a chance to leave and live again. melissa bell, cnn, cairo. >> right now to cnn's reporter who is covering these details for us. under the deals hundreds of people will be up -- still 2 million palestinians are stuck there. israel has been -- warning the military offensive will intensify. so the humanitarian crisis which is growing by the day only get worse it seems. >> yes, john, that is critical to remember as we look at what seems on the surface to be a diplomatic achievement, it was the talks were difficult and delicate and we were hearing from an official who says that there were hurdles, hamas demanded to include some of their fighters among the injured palestinians who were able to leave, that was rejected, israel had to be convinced to accept a list of injured palestinians to get out. the backdrop to all of this is the egyptian fears that they will then be inundated by a flood of palestinian refugees, that is why the process has been such a long time coming and it's so slow. and so tightly controlled. as you say, this is a very small number, small proportion of the passport holder who want to get out we understand from the u.s. secretary of state that americans in the family number around 1000, 5000 other country nationals that want to get out of the gaza strip. it's a small proportion of that, a tiny miniscule fraction of the 2.3 million people living in the gaza strip. i think a measure of how watertight the siege, these are the first people to get out. of course there is a separate truck of negotiations going regarding the hostages, truck of negotiations brokered by qatar and one that we understand. parties including the u.s. are very concerned is complicated by the ongoing ground offensive in air offensive which we understand, as you say, to be ramping up, the israeli defense minister saying on wednesday that there is fighting in gaza city. the humanitarian crisis intensifies little aid getting in. very slow process to get people out. >> clare, thank you, clare sebastian live for us. the refugee camp that was hit twice is a few miles north of gaza city. the biggest city in all of policing in territory, and not far it seems from advancing israeli ground forces. cnn's jeremy diamond has details. >> this is all that remains, for the second day in a row israeli jets striking the densely populated jabalia refugee camp. flattening apartment buildings, hundreds were wounded and at least 80 people were killed, according to the director of the nearby indonesian hospital. the idf said it struck a hamas command and control complex in jabalia killing hamas militants. but civilians also clearly among the casualties, including children rushed out of the rubble. tonight the united nations human rights office raising serious concerns that these are disproportionate attacks that could amount to war crimes. israel blaming hamas for using civilians as human shields, as it continues its offensive. >> a top israeli commander says his forces are closing in on gaza city. hamas stronghold in the gaza strip. >> we are deep in the strip at the gates of gaza city in the last five days we have dismantled a lot of the abilities of hamas, we've attacked strategic positions, all the explosive abilities and underground facilities and systems. >> five days after israel launched its ground offensive in gaza, israeli forces are advancing towards gaza city from three different directions. in the north, israeli armor and infantry has been spotted advancing from both ends of the strip. israeli tanks also appeared to be closing in from the south. cnn geolocated this tank at the strategic net serene junction, the main road into gaza city. israel is also moving some of its artillery closer to gaza. until recently this field was filled with israeli artillery position, you can see the amounts where guns and other types of artillery would begin. and now as israeli forces move closer into gaza those artillery positions are also moving closer to support the troops on the ground. now, all that remains are these, boxes of munitions, artillery fuses used by the forces that were here. >> the question now is how deep israeli forces will move into gaza? >> the only way to get to what hamas has built over a decade inside the gaza strip, the only way mr. ground operation. >> jeremy diamond, cnn, ashkelon, israel. >> for more now on israel's military offensive on gaza cnn military analyst and retired u.s. colonel is now with us this hour. welcome back, it's good to see you. >> good to see to john, thanks for having me. >> always a pleasure. i want you to listen to part of the conversation between pollen and idf spokesman about the level of firepower, of explosive yield used on jabalia refugee camp. here they are. >> i've been in gaza when the idf has performed surgical strikes. the idf is more than capable of this, this is not that, why not? >> so i don't think i really agree with what you say, because the precision here is to hit a target buried underground, what we did here was to strike with the required amount of fire power to get to where he was hiding. >> according to reporting an israeli transport plane flew with bombs from the united states to israel. in terms of the firepower which would be used, they call it sharp pale, they are precise and used to penetrate fortified structures, once it was destroyed does that explain the explosion love behind? leaving the huge craters there? >> yes that kind of job you bomb could have been used in this particular case. there was also another possibility the job you 28 which they've had in their inventory for over a decade. either a type of bomb, position guided munition could have been used in this situation, what it does is it hones in on the target. if it's program properly, goes to multiple points in the target and that nays on impact. it's designed to go underground, in some cases up to 100 feet which is far clear and a useful place to go on a structure like the tunnels that they have been creating. >> there's ronald was holding the ground above it's a once that is gone does it explain what is left behind? >> it could. it depends on how the structures above it are billed and what they rest on it is possible that the bomb hits exactly right that it could take down above ground structures, and that could indicate exactly not only where things are located but also it could manifest itself in the type of construction that we see in the refugee camps in gaza. >> the networks of tunnel believe gaza, that's part of your analysis, from just a few days ago. here we go. >> as far as the tunnels go they are at a minimum described like this, could be up to 300 miles of these -- but they are in the area here particularly in the north and upper central part and then there are some here in the south, these are areas which we can expect to see control notes for hamas. hostages and also resupply efforts >> -- the hamas metro is almost half as big as the -- london underground tube. it's also said to be three different -- with a -- senior leadership on the deepest level -- about 75 feet below ground. how difficult is it to target someone that far below ground and, i guess, the more powerful the bomb, does that mean the more destruction above? >> -- generally does, actually. so, the more powerful the bomb, depending on the warhead and the exact nature of ground that it impacts, it could definitely cause destruction above. when normally, these bombs are designed to go underground and explode underground. and if the soil is right, it could actually limit the impact of above ground. so, they are designed to avoid the type of destruction that you often see above ground, for a normal type of bombing weighed. but yes, the structures below, especially the command structures at 75 feet or so, they are the ones that are the prime targets. very difficult to reach. and it becomes really indicative of the targeting process how well and how quickly those targets can be prosecuted in air force jargon. >> -- reason why they hit this tunnel at that particular moment. the tunnel beneath the refugee camp was because of realtime information, a senior hamas leader was there. when that scenario to one side, is one option here essentially flooding the tunnels? because in recent years, egypt has flooded cross border tunnels with gaza, which have been used by smugglers. and it seems that is actually quite effective. is that actually an option here for gaza? >> potentially, it could be. i think there might be some issues with getting enough water into a tunnel in a combat zone like gaza. the egyptians had the luxury of flooding those tunnels without being shot at. the israelis would be shot hat in the case like this. so, it is one option. that is possible. but in this particular case, the more rapid distribution of the targets really calls for some kind of a arreola tack, or a grounded attack. so, that could be another alternative. but it's not in feasible to flood some of the tunnels at least. >> colonel leighton, it's always good to have you with us. thank you, sir. >> you bet, john. thanks for having me. >> up next on cnn, a closer look at the devastation left behind palestine's jabalia if camp -- killeded in the blblink of an n. >> israel has now confirmed both airstrikes on the jabalia refugee camp in gaza. but where remains unknown right now is the full extent of the devastation in just how many people were killed in both attacks. the idf says hamas command center was the target out wednesday strike. on tuesday, israeli military says, it targeted and killed one of the hamas commanders responsible for the october 7th attack on israel. but -- left behind catastrophic damage in a very densely populated part of gaza. we're now from cnn's salma abdulaziz. a warning, report contains graphic images and scenes which many viewers will find hard to watch. >> dust and debris fill the air after an israeli airstrike. ambulance, ambulance calls the man carrying the child. these are the moments after the israeli military's attack on the jabalia camp in gaza. everyone is disoriented and terrified. and this is the result. several city blocks leveled in an instant. the scene is apocalyptic. survivors desperately dig for their loved ones with bare hands. israel says it was targeting a hamas commander, hiding in this densely populated residential area. an idf spokesperson -- the death of innocent civilians a tragedy of war. that tragedy, tearing apart this community. no one yet knows how many still lie under the ruins. shortly after the bombs fell -- in the enclave or mostly -- but when palestinian camera man was among those able to post on social media. >> [screaming] >> the anguish is heart wrenching. the victims, small and afraid. moms and dads who bury their children. all three of my children are dead, this father says. all three! entire families are wiped out. this man holds up the name of 15 relatives killed in the airstrike. my whole family. innocent people are dead, he says. total destruction. our whole building is gone. 20 stories! this is a massacre. at the nearby hospital, the carnage is on display. the bodies keep piling up. with her dead children at her feet, this mother praise for strength. many in this forsaken enclave feel they have no one but god left. salma abdelaziz, cnn, london. >> [screaming] >> >> israeli -- while warning hamas will do whatever it can to -- and hatred between israeli arabs and the majority jewish population. >> translator: this monstrous enemy is trying with all its might to wage against the psychological war, with the most nefarious tools. we have seen it this week again and again. and i expect we will see it in different ways. it aims to terrify us with video clips, rumors and lies. he wants to -- psychologically. the enemy seeks to kindle hatred between us, between jewish citizens and arab citizens. we have to fight back against this without compromise and singlemindedly. we have to reject every orage toward hatred and racism. >> ever since the hamas october 7th attack on israel, there has been a surging number of reports of antisemitism across europe. on wednesday, leaders of austria's jewish community said a ceremonial hall at the jewish ceremony was defaced with swastikas and set on fire. -- investigation is now underway with austria's chancellor denouncing the attack, saying antisemitism has no place in society, and will be fought with all political and legal means. the mayor of rome says two commemorative cobblestones honoring auschwitz survivors have been desecrated, and he called for solidarity with the city's jewish community. anger at the u.s. government is raising a mountain palace in the american stuck in gaza saying not enough is being done to get them home safely. when we come back, how a family in michigan is coping with the daily fear of not knowing if their elderly parents are alive or dead. is it possible my network could take my business to the next level? it is with comcast business. powering all your devices with gig-speed wifi. and you get fast downloads and uploads. pick it up! pick it up! oh we got this! because it's powered by the next generation 10g network. more speed for your business? it's not just possible. it's happening. get started for $59.99 a month for 12 months. plus, ask how to get an $800 prepaid card with a qualifying internet bundle. comcast business, powering possibilities. >> welcome back, everyone, i am john vause and this is cnn newsroom. -- 26 days ago, a few hundred people have been allowed to leave gaza. according to egyptian officials at least 361 people holding foreign passports for allowed into egypt via the rafah crossing. among, them all the 22 remaining staff from doctors without borders. a few dozen seriously wounded palestinians were granted permission to leave as well -- now being treated in hospitals across egypt. with the rafah crossing the only exit to the outside world, officials in gaza rafah remains open in both directions. >> translator: we call upon our egyptian brothers to put pressure for the crossing to open in both directions daily -- surgical cases can go through. as we have about 20,000 cases in hospital, thousands of those are very serious, and include difficult injuries. therefore, 81 people is not enough. we want hundreds of those injured to receive those treatment abroad. as all the hospitals have exhausted their capacities in every respect. medical supplies, medicines for wards and byrnes have run out as well. we also called for the fuel to be allowed in for the hospitals, the ambulance and civil defense vehicles to operate. therefore, we call upon the egyptian brothers to open this crossing daily, and continuously. >> a hospital official in gaza says an israeli airstrike on the jabalya we have to camp has killed at least 80 people and injured hundreds more. it was the second consecutive day that israel has targeted the heavily populated camp -- as it claims, hamas tunnels -- video in her report disturbing. >> chaos in the aftermath of an israeli strike on gaza's largest refugee camp, jabalya, tuesday. the densely populated camp is filled with families with children, and embedded hamas militants, says israeli military officials. the idf confirms they targeted and killed several hamas combatants, including a top commander in the strike. >> our bombs struck not on buildings, but in between the buildings, because we were aiming for the tunnel complex where the hamas combatants commander was. >> wednesday, a second israeli airstrike in the same camp, a doctor at the scene told cnn that there were hundreds wounded and dead. >> it is because there are terrorists that are embedded there. the idf right now is facing fighting in face to face combat with hamas terrorists inside jabalya. ultimately speaking, the collateral damage -- and this is our very clear -- it is on hamas the's shoulders. >> meanwhile, at the rafah gate crossing between israel and gaza, limited evacuations have begun, part of the deal brokered by israel, hamas and egypt, in coordination with the u.s., according to sources familiar with the talks. >> -- including u.s. citi