A first group of civilian evacuees from Gaza — including 20 Australians — cross into Egypt under a Qatari-mediated deal.
A first group of civilian evacuees from Gaza — including 20 Australians — has crossed into Egypt under a Qatari-mediated deal while Israeli forces bombed the Palestinian enclave from land, sea and air anew as they pressed their offensive against Hamas militants.
Some foreign passport holders and injured Gazans are now able to leave the strip under a deal struck between Egypt, Israel and Hamas.The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed 20 Australians have left Gaza through the Rafah border crossing to Egypt.They were among at least 320 foreign passport holders and dozens of wounded allowed to leave Gaza on Wednesday local time as part of the first batch of civilian evacuations, according to Egyptian and Palestinian officials.
"An important step in the right direction, which we need to build on," Tor Wennesland, the United Nations' Middle East peace envoy, said on X social media platform, hailing the opening of Rafah to the first evacuees.The European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell on Wednesday said he was "appalled" by the high number of casualties from the bombing by Israel of a refugee camp in Gaza and called for fighting parties to respect the international rules of war.
Palestinian health officials said at least 50 Palestinians were killed when Israeli air strikes hit the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp in north Gaza on Tuesday. Israel said the strike had killed a ringleader of last month's deadly Hamas terror attack on Israel. "With each passing day, as the situation becomes more and more dire, this is more urgent than ever," Borrell said as he repeated last week's plea.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the international calls for a "humanitarian pause" in the fighting, saying that Hamas would take advantage of any truce.
In a statement from its foreign ministry, it condemned "the ongoing Israeli war that is killing innocent people in Gaza and causing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe".Jordan’s deputy prime minister, Ayman al-Safadi, who is also the foreign minister, said the return of the ambassadors is linked to Israel “stopping its war on Gaza … and the humanitarian catastrophe it is causing.”Its population includes more than two million Palestinian refugees.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Israel-Hamas war: Israel kills terror chief as hopes rise for Australians’ Gaza escapeUS officials say high-level negotiations have made good progress towards reopening the lone border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
Read more »
Shortages of Food and Supplies in Gaza as Israel-Gaza War IntensifiesCheese, canned meat, jam, tea, and sugar are all in short supply as aid supplies and food in Gaza dries up. Shop manager Saleh Awad says grocery stores cannot provide enough goods to customers as the Israel-Gaza war intensifies.
Read more »
Israel-Gaza war live updates: Foreign passport holders lining up to exit Gaza through Rafah crossingDozens of foreign passport holders have begun entering the Rafah crossing from Gaza, while ambulances and trucks filled with humanitarian aid line up on the Egypt side of the border. Follow live.
Read more »
UN Calls for Multiple Border Crossings to Deliver Aid to GazaThe United Nations urges the need for more than one border crossing to deliver aid to the besieged Gaza Strip as Israel intensifies its attacks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expresses concern for Australians in Gaza and emphasizes the condemnation of Hamas attacks on Israel. He also highlights the importance of Israel's right to self-defense while valuing every civilian life. The UN states that Kerem Shalom, controlled by Israel, is the only equipped crossing for aid trucks, while trucks from Egypt enter Gaza through Rafah.
Read more »
Australia news live: Australians reportedly among those fleeing Gaza as border opensFollow live
Read more »
‘Seize this opportunity’: Australians trapped in Gaza told to head to Egypt borderSome of the 88 Australians stranded in the war zone could be on the list of 400 foreign nationals allowed to leave.
Read more »