The Gaza-Egypt border has opened allowing 20 trucks filled with food and medical supplies into Gaza, at a Cairo peace summit, Arab leaders have condemned Israeli bombardment of Gaza, saying civilians should be shielded, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said they would not leave their land.
6.22am
DFAT advises 51 Australians in Gaza on possibility of leaving
ByLaura Chung and Nicole Precel
The Department of Foreign Affairs has been advising 51 Australian citizens about the possibility of leaving Gaza after the opening of the Rafah border crossing.
It’s unclear whether those wishing to leave could do so, with the opportunity coming at short notice and DFAT advising those registered with Smartraveller as DFAT became aware of them.
A DFAT spokesperson said it was in close communication with all those Australians and their family members registered with Smartraveller in Gaza about their welfare and departure options through the Rafah crossing.
“We are also working with authorities on arrangements for those who may cross into Egypt. Australians who wish to leave Gaza and have not already registered should register via Smartraveller or call our consular emergency centre on +61 2 6261 3305,” the spokesperson said.
Australians already registered with DFAT do not need to register again.
6.08am
Aid trucks arrive in Southern Gaza, but UN warns it’s not enough
ByNidal Al Mughrabi and Emily Rose
Trucks carrying aid arrived in southern Gaza on Saturday, the first convoy of humanitarian supplies since Israel began a siege 12 days ago and after further heavy Israeli bombardment overnight that killed dozens of Palestinians.
Witnesses said 20 aid trucks exited the crossing after checks and proceeded into Gaza’s southern area including the major towns of Rafah and Khan Younis where hundreds of thousands of people are sheltering.
However, Palestinian officials were disappointed that fuel supplies were not included and added that the relief was only three per cent of what used to get into Gaza in terms of medical and humanitarian aid before the crisis.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “fight until victory” in Gaza, signalling no pause in his military’s bombardment and expected invasion of the enclave, after Hamas released two US hostages.
As Israel continued to amass tanks and troops near Gaza ahead of its expected ground invasion in response to the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, but experts say the release of American hostages Judith Tai Raanan, 59 and her daughter Natalie, 17 may have delayed the ground offensive.
5.44am
I’m Nicole Precel and I’ll bring you the latest developments for the first half of the day. It’s just past 11.30pm in Tel Aviv.
A quick summary of where things stand:
The Gaza-Egypt border has opened allowing the first convoy of humanitarian supplies into southern Gaza since Israel began a siege, but the United Nations says at least 100 trucks a day are needed.
It’s unclear if foreign nationals have been able to cross from Gaza and into Egypt, but the US embassy in Israel has warned people to expect a potentially chaotic and disorderly environment. Those crossing the border are urged to be careful.
Hamas has released two US hostages, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan, who were kidnapped as the terrorist organisation attacked southern Israel on October 7.
World leaders met at a Cairo peace summit on Saturday, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Italy’s Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
They condemned Israeli bombardment of Gaza, saying civilians should be shielded, but senior US and Israeli officials were absent so no agreement was made.
At the summit, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Palestinians would not be displaced or driven off their land.
Tens of thousands of Pro-Palestinian protestors lined the streets in London on Saturday, demanding Israel stop its bombardment of Gaza, with similar calls made in cities across the world.
