At least 45 Australians and other foreigners are still trapped in Gaza as diplomatic efforts continue over the possible reopening of Egypt’s Rafah border crossing.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has told Australians known to be in the area to move closer to the Rafah border crossing area and be ready to move in case a humanitarian window opens.
The government is supporting negotiations between the US, Israel and Egypt to open the crossing and said there is yet to be a timeframe around a potential reopening.
However, there have been vacant seats on government-assisted flights out of Tel Aviv for two days in a row, prompting the Australian government not to schedule further flights out of the conflict zone despite warning Australian citizens to leave.
“This is a dangerous situation … if people are seeking to leave and there offered a place, please take it, please take it,” Prime Minster Anthony Albanese said during a media conference on Tuesday.
“There have been issues where it hasn’t been taken up, but this is a very volatile situation.”
(Sky News)
