Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has confirmed that the number of applications received from Israeli nationals for both temporary and permanent visa categories is five times higher than for Palestinian nationals. And the number of visas approved for Israeli nationals is seven times higher than for Palestinian nationals.
News can reveal the exact number of visas issued by Immigration New Zealand when the atrocities by Hamas against Israelis began a new chapter in the long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Since 7 October, Immigration has received 145 applications for both temporary and permanent visas for Israeli nationals, of which 64 have been approved and 75 are under assessment.
This compares to 27 applications for both temporary and permanent visa categories for Palestinian nationals, of which nine have been approved and 13 are under review.
Immigration noted that the applications were from both onshore and offshore applicants. And it is not yet known whether any of the applicants are from Gaza, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford told Parliament on Wednesday.
But Simon Sanders, Acting Chief Operating Officer of Immigration, says: “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the escalating crisis and loss of life in the Israel-Gaza conflict. The Government continues to monitor the situation closely with our partners. New Zealand supports the humanitarian efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Food Programme (WFP) to address the urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza.
We understand the difficult situation this crisis is creating for many and have great sympathy for those separated from their loved ones at this stressful time,” said Sanders.
Since the start of the conflict between Israel and Gaza, Immigration New Zealand says it has put processes in place to ensure consistency and prioritisation of all applications received from people living in these locations.
The processes include all general visitor visa applications from Palestinian and Israeli nationals being processed in the same office, and says a mailbox has been set up for applicants seeking assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to request prioritisation of applications. Nearly 20,000 people, mostly Palestinians, have been killed in Gaza in nine weeks, 70% of them women and children. And now 1.9 million people have been displaced, over 85% of Gaza’s total population.
Sanders says the MFAT has been providing case-by-case advice and assistance to New Zealand citizens and permanent residents trying to leave Gaza and travel to New Zealand.
News understands that MFAT has assisted 20 individuals to leave Gaza, and that these individuals are New Zealand citizens, permanent residents and family members (spouses or dependent children).
An MFAT spokesperson says: “Securing permits for individuals to leave Gaza is a complex process that requires approval from both Israel and Egypt, as well as assurances from the Egyptian government that those we assist will leave Egypt within 72 hours”.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford confirmed this: “I have been assured by the Foreign Minister that all New Zealand citizens and permanent residents who wanted to leave Gaza have now left, and this was a priority for the new government.
There was also discussion about whether the Government would grant Palestinians a special category visa, similar to the one Ukrainians received in 2022, with the Minister citing that Ukraine was in a different situation as the previous Government was able to work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and international partners to get refugees out.
However, Sanders says: “Any decision to change the immigration policy framework would be a matter for the government.”
“Ukraine was a unique situation given the size, scale and nature of the conflict and the fact that UNHCR was unable to refer people to New Zealand through our refugee quota, meaning there were no existing pathways for Ukrainian refugees. Afghanistan was another situation where unique circumstances required a targeted approach, as Afghan nationals were at risk of harm due to their work for the New Zealand Defence Force and other agencies in Afghanistan,” says Sanders.
The main way New Zealand supports international refugee situations is through the Refugee Quota, with an annual quota of 1,500 people. Refugees are accepted through the Refugee Quota and referred to Immigration NZ by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Immigration NZ also contributes to international peacekeeping, disarmament and humanitarian funding through the United Nations and NGOs.
On 13 December, the Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand issued a joint statement calling for a return to calm in Gaza and supporting urgent international efforts to achieve a sustainable ceasefire.
