The last 62 days have been unimaginable for a Kiwi from Gaza who has lost 71 family members during the Israel-Hamas war.
Nehad Al Battniji has been living in New Zealand for 13 years. The last time he saw his family in Gaza was in April but since then a lot has changed.
"We lucky we got to see everyone before most of them leave the life," Battniji told AM.
At least 17,177 people have been killed in Gaza since the fighting broke out on October 7, according to its Health Ministry.
Of those people, 71 were Battniji's family members, one of them his nephew who was just five years old.
He said it's difficult to get in touch with his family because there is no internet or phone connection. Sometimes he hears the heartbreaking news from someone else.
"It's very difficult, it's too much stress for us every day for the last 62 days," Battniji said.
The Australian Government has granted numerous temporary visas to distressed Palestinians and Battniji would like to see something like that done here in New Zealand so his family can be safe.
"We don't know what's going to be next, whose going to be next."
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