No more NZ citizens or residents trying to leave Gaza - MFAT

5:16 pm on 17 December 2023

This aerial view shows humanitarian aid trucks arriving from Egypt after having crossed through the Rafah border crossing arriving at a storage facility in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 21, 2023. The first aid trucks arrived in war-torn Gaza from Egypt on October 21, bringing urgent humanitarian relief to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave suffering what the UN chief labelled a "godawful nightmare". Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Islamist militant group carried out the deadliest attack in the country's history on October 7. (Photo by Belal Al SABBAGH / AFP)

Photo: BELAL AL SABBAGH / AFP

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it is not aware of any remaining New Zealand citizens or permanent residents still seeking to leave Gaza.

Foreign affairs minister Winston Peters said on social media that one citizen left overnight via the Rafah crossing into Egypt, accompanied by a family member.

They are currently being offered support by the New Zealand embassy in Cairo.

One New Zealand citizen left Gaza overnight via the Rafah crossing, accompanied by a family member.

They are being offered support by the New Zealand Embassy team in Cairo.

MFAT is not currently aware of any remaining citizens or PRs seeking to leave Gaza.

-WP@MFATNZ
— Winston Peters (@NewZealandMFA) December 17, 2023