Hope but uncertainty for Aussies in Gaza as exit opens

The Rafah crossing was reopened to allow more foreigners to leave Gaza. (EPA PHOTO)

Efforts continue to get dozens of Australians and their families out of Gaza after 25 people made it safely across to Egypt.

One citizen and one permanent resident were the latest Australians to exit through the Rafah crossing out of Gaza during the second window.

They followed 20 Australian citizens, one permanent resident and two family members who passed into Egypt during the first opening.

Australian consular officials met them at the border and provided onward travel and accommodation in Cairo, where commercial flights are being arranged to bring them home. 

Foreign nationals arriving in Egypt
Hundreds of people have been able to leave Gaza via the Rafah crossing into Egypt.

An initial list had 34 Australians and their families on the approved crossing list.

The border is expected to open again for hundreds of foreign nationals to exit the besieged strip on Friday.

The second and third daily lists did not have any Australians. It remains unclear whether those who were listed but have not yet crossed are set to do so when the border opens again.

Australia is providing assistance to more than 60 people who remain in Gaza, which has been bombarded by retaliatory air strikes by Israel in response to a deadly attack launched by Hamas on October 7.

But the situation remains highly challenging and can change rapidly, a foreign affairs department spokesman said.

"We continue to engage closely with partners in the region and do all we can to enable the remaining Australians in Gaza, who wish to leave, to do so as soon as possible," the spokesman said.

More than 800 people have been able to leave Gaza via the Rafah crossing under a deal brokered between the US, Egypt, Israel and Qatar.

Industry Minister Ed Husic called for a de-escalation of violence in the region.

He warned people to "be very careful about using words like genocide" after seven United Nations special rapporteurs for human rights expressed concern.

"We remain convinced that the Palestinian people are at grave risk of genocide," they said in a statement.

More than a third of Gaza's 35 hospitals are not functioning and some have been turned into refugee camps as the Palestinian death toll nears 10,000 and casualties mount.

A file photo of Ed Husic
Industry Minister Ed Husic said the situation in the Middle East is being closely watched.

Mr Husic said the international community was closely watching the situation in the Middle East and "pleading for moderation".

"I was worried very early on about where things would head, and the impacts that would be borne by innocent Palestinian families," he told ABC Radio on Friday.

"There's been a very sizeable impact in terms of lives that have been lost, particularly around kids.

"A lot of people in Australia are genuinely worried by that."

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said it was critical for foreign nationals to be able to leave Gaza.

"We all want to see humanitarian aid access Gaza and we want to ensure that there is movement of international citizens out of Gaza," he told Sky News.

But it was also critical Israel disarmed Hamas to avoid more innocent lives being lost in the future in the event the October 7 attack could be repeated, he said.

Mr Husic suggested more carefully targeted alternatives should be considered to root out militants and minimise the killing of innocent civilians.

Israel said it had killed dozens of militants since ground operations expanded on Friday but also lost 18 of its own soldiers.

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