The 16 Dutch nationals and residence permit holders allowed into Egypt from Gaza on Thursday will be back in the Netherlands on Saturday, the foreign affairs ministry has confirmed.

The 16, including several members of one family, have been taken to Cairo to await their transfer back home.

The ministry is reportedly still in touch with 14 other Dutch nationals who remain in Gaza, none of whom were on the list to be allowed out on Friday.

“My heart goes out to Dutch nationals who are currently still in Gaza. We maintain close contact with them in these uncertain times,” acting foreign minister Hanke Bruijns Slot said on social media.

The authorities have been allowing foreign nationals out in small groups since Wednesday. A list of who is eligible for evacuation via the Rafah border crossing is being published daily.