An Adelaide family of four who had been trapped in Gaza for three weeks are among 20 Australians who have managed to escape the besieged enclave into Egypt.
Australia has confirmed 20 Australian nationals – and three other people who had registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) – crossed through the Rafah pass into Egypt as part of a multinational deal to allow foreign national civilians to leave Gaza.
The Adelaide family of four were visiting relatives in Gaza for the first time in 12 years when hostilities broke out on 7 October, trapping them inside the enclave as the bombardment worsened and food, water and medicines ran short.
A family spokesperson said crossing the heavily militarised checkpoint had taken hours and was “nerve-racking”, the family having tried several times before without success.
The family was “exhausted” and travelling to a hotel in Egypt before their expected repatriation to Australia out of Cairo.
“They are incredibly grateful to the Australian government and to everyone who has assisted and advocated for their evacuation,” the spokesperson said.
“The family remains extremely concerned for the lives of their loved ones in Gaza. They have left behind ill elderly parents, who have run out of essential medication. They have left behind siblings, nieces and nephews who are petrified and want a chance at a normal life in safety.
“They may never see their family again. Parting with them prior to crossing the border was distressing and something no family should have to endure.”
The spokesperson said the family was asking the Australian government to bring their loved ones to safety as well as other Australian Palestinians.
“These people will be loved and supported by their families and communities in Australia. All lives are equal.”
The family had previously told Guardian Australia they feared they would not survive the bombardment of Israeli air strikes, one of which destroyed their family’s home.
“We are terrified that we may not live until tomorrow,” they said.
“The children are petrified – they … fear that they may lose their parents at any moment.”
Qatar on Wednesday brokered a deal between Egypt, Hamas and Israel – co-ordinated by the US – for the border crossing to open.
It has allowed for Australians and other foreign nationals to escape from the Gaza Strip, which Israel has bombarded with air strikes in response to the Hamas attack on 7 October.
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, said she was “relieved and grateful” that 20 Australian citizens were able to cross the border out of Gaza, along with a permanent resident and two family members.
Wong relayed a phone call with Australia’s ambassador to Egypt, Axel Wabenhorst, after the first group of Australians arrived in Cairo.
“It was about 4am in Cairo and I can tell you I was speaking to him and I could hear children in the background and I said to him are they our kids and he said yes – some of the Australian children who made it to Cairo today,” Wong told reporters in Adelaide.
“They had a seven-hour journey which is obviously pretty tiring. I asked abut the health of all of the Australians. He said that people seemed in good health and were relieved but we are ensuring anyone who needs medical attention will receive it.”
Wong again called for “humanitarian pauses on hostilities” so supplies of food, water, medicine and fuel could reach people in desperate need. “The people of Gaza cannot wait,” she said.
She reiterated that Hamas was “a craven terrorist group” that had “burrowed itself into civilian infrastructure” but “all of these challenges do not lessen Israel’s obligation to observe international law and the rules of war”.
Wong also said violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank “needs to stop”.
Wong promised other Australians who remained trapped that the government would “continue to press for all of you to cross the border out of Gaza”.
The assistant foreign minister, Tim Watts, said there were 65 Australians still stuck in Gaza.
With Australian Associated Press
