New Zealand says 11 of its citizens have left Gaza for Egypt

Passengers fleeing from the Gaza Strip arrive in the Egyptian part of the Rafah border crossing with the Palestinian enclave on November 12, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (AFP)
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Updated 13 November 2023
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New Zealand says 11 of its citizens have left Gaza for Egypt

  • The Middle Eastern territory has been bombarded by Israeli forces since early last month in retaliation for an attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas

WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s government on Monday said 11 New Zealanders left Gaza overnight on Sunday and entered Egypt via the Rafah border crossing.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) spokeswoman in an email said the people were met by a New Zealand consular team and provided with support.
The Middle Eastern territory has been bombarded by Israeli forces since early last month in retaliation for an attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Gaza’s border authority announced that the Rafah land crossing into Egypt would reopen on Sunday for foreign passport holders after being closed on Friday.
The MFAT spokeswoman said New Zealand is working around the clock to get its remaining citizens and permanent residents out of Gaza.
New Zealand last week said it was working with 21 New Zealanders, family members and permanent residents to help them leave Gaza.

 

 


Pentagon chief to hold first press conference on Iran

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Pentagon chief to hold first press conference on Iran

WASHINGTON: Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth will hold a press conference on Monday morning about the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, the first by a senior official since strikes began Saturday.
The press conference will be held at 8:00 am local time Monday (1300 GMT), the Pentagon announced Sunday on X.
Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, will also take part, the Pentagon said.
Pete Hegseth will also visit Congress on Tuesday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to brief lawmakers on the progress of the military operation, the White House announced Sunday.
Democrats in opposition have complained that they were not consulted before the operation began.
The US and Israeli militaries struck Iran on Saturday, and Iranian state media confirmed Sunday that a strike on Tehran killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.