12 Dec 2023

New Zealander manages to leave Gaza via Rafah crossing

1:24 pm on 12 December 2023
People fleeing from the Gaza Strip queue up in the Egyptian part of the Rafah border crossing with the Palestinian enclave, on December 3, 2023, amid continuing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas.

People fleeing from the Gaza Strip queue up in the Egyptian part of the Rafah border crossing with the Palestinian enclave, on 3 December 2023. Photo: AFP

A New Zealander has made it out of Gaza overnight, crossing into Egypt through the Rafah crossing.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said the person was being supported by the New Zealand Embassy in Cairo.

Peters revealed via X (formerly Twitter) last week that five New Zealand permanent residents had escaped Gaza through the Rafah crossing. Last month, at least 11 New Zealanders and three permanent residents also made it out of Gaza.

In early November, it was reported New Zealand ambassador to Israel Zoe Coulson-Sinclair was seeking approval from Israel to evacuate citizens, family members and New Zealand permanent residents from Gaza.

MFAT said Israel and Egypt were in charge of decisions on who was able to cross the Rafah border.

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