The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed early on Thursday (AEDT) that 20 Australians had left the Palestinian enclave through the Rafah crossing on Wednesday.

An additional three people who had been registered with DFAT also crossed.

The news channel al Jazeera reported a higher figure, that 34 Australians had crossed at Rafah on Wednesday.

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 October 7.

Assistant Foreign Minister Tim Watts said he was relieved Australians had been able to cross the border.

“They were met by Australian consular officials who are on the ground in Egypt who were able to provide assistance with ongoing travel arrangements,” he said on Thursday.

“We’re grateful that this initial cohort has made the crossing from Gaza to Egypt.”

He said there were 65 Australians still stuck in Gaza and that they were being provided with consular assistance.

“We are continuing to push for them to be able to make that passage across the Rafah crossing as soon as possible,” he said.

“We know this is an incredibly distressing time for Australians in Gaza and their families, and we are providing all possible support we can, communicating through all available channels.”

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said the government was helping 88 people in Gaza, which included Australians and their family members.

“We understand the situation is extremely distressing for them and their loved ones,” the spokesperson said.

The department said it had been in contact with people about departure options, including the “possibility of the opening of the Rafah border on 1 November”.

“Consular officials in Cairo are ready to provide support to those Australians and their family members who cross into Egypt,” the spokesperson said.

It comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke with Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, almost a month since the terror group launched a horrific attack that killed more than 1400 people.

The government has reaffirmed its support for Israel’s right to defend itself but has called for restraint to avoid the deaths of civilians.

The leaders’ conversation followed Israeli air strikes that levelled apartment buildings at a refugee camp in Gaza, drawing international condemnation.

The Israeli military said it killed a senior Hamas commander and had destroyed “underground terror infrastructure” beneath buildings.

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said at least 50 people were killed in the Jabaliya refugee camp.

An Amnesty International spokeswoman said under international law, parties cannot carry out attacks that cause disproportionate harm to civilians.

“Amnesty is calling for an immediate ceasefire to halt the mounting civilian death toll and for international humanitarian law to be upheld so civilians can be protected,” she said.

-with AAP