5750 (2024). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

5750 (2024). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What efforts, if any, have been made by the Government to support the evacuation of Palestinians who are relatives of New Zealand residents or citizens since October 2023?

Rt Hon Winston Peters: 28 New Zealand citizens, Permanent Residents, and a small number of immediate family members who have sought the assistance of the New Zealand Government have been able to leave Gaza. 9 New Zealand citizens who sought the assistance of the New Zealand Government have been assisted to leave the West Bank. Approval is required from Israel before Egypt will consider an individual as having permission to leave Gaza via Rafah. A ‘sponsor country’ must submit requests for permission to exit. At present, Israel has stated that its policy is that “only foreign nationals and their first-degree relatives” are given exit permits. New Zealand Government support has included seeking the formal permissions for individuals to leave Gaza (through the New Zealand Embassies in Cairo and Ankara), diplomatic advocacy, facilitation of entry into Egypt, meeting families at Rafah border crossing, supporting families in Cairo with food, transport, and accommodation. Diplomatic advocacy has included engagement through New Zealand officials at our Embassies in the region, as well as through Ministers and senior officials in Wellington, including with resident diplomatic missions in Wellington.