Gaza Assistance

This program aims to facilitate the seamless settlement and integration of newly arrived Muslim families from Gaza. These families will be eligible for Zakat under the Fuqarah and/or ibn Sabeel Categories as per the Qur’an (Surah Al-Taubah 9:60)

Program Objectives:

• Provide a one-off Settlement Assistance payment for essential needs upon first arriving in Australia.

Who is this program for?

We anticipate the arrival of approximately 860 Palestinians in Australia on Visitor Visas (Subclass 600). Sponsors of individuals arriving from Gaza can apply for this program online through this page or by calling the 1300 663 729 hotline upon the sponsored individuals' and families' arrival in Australia. Applications will only require details regarding family composition, ages of individuals, and sponsorship information for the initial payment.

We are assisting applicants Australia wide.

• Facilitating Integration: By providing financial support for essential needs, the program aids in the initial settlement phase, enabling those families to focus on healing from the trauma and integration into the Australian wider community.
• Ensuring Basic Necessities: The allocation structure ensures that individuals of different age groups receive appropriate financial support tailored to their specific needs.
• Sponsor Engagement: Involving sponsors helps build a sense of dignity, responsibility, and support within the families, enhancing the overall integration process.

Initially, we expected visa updates for those arriving from Gaza. However, after almost a year, the majority of visas remain unchanged, and the needs have far exceeded our initial expectations.

We originally budgeted for 860 visas, but 2,300 have now been granted, with over 1,100 individuals already in Australia and more arriving each day.

By September 2025, we had distributed a total of $5,136,024.05 in Zakat and Sadaqah, supporting 1,515 displaced individuals from Gaza who had arrived in Australia since November 2023.

This assistance included:

• One-off Settlement Assistance payments to cover essential needs upon immediate arrival.
• 6 month ongoing monthly financial support to help cover living expenses.
• Critical aid during the settlement phase, enabling families to heal from trauma and integrate into the wider Australian community.
• Engaging sponsors to promote dignity, responsibility, and a sense of support, further enhancing the integration process.
• Engaging and collaborating with stakeholders, including schools, community groups, government, and non-government organisations.

NZF supports newly arrived individuals from Gaza with a settlement payment to help them settle into life in Australia. After this settlement period, if anyone continues to experience hardship or requires additional support, they can apply for assistance through our standard Zakat channels.

Every application will be assessed individually, as per our established Zakat governance frameworks, with care and confidentiality, to ensure Zakat is reaching those who need it most.

We continue working closely with our community partners to assist with longer-term integration services, helping individuals and families navigate life in Australia.

As of September 2025, we have assisted 1,515 individuals from Gaza, Alhamdulillah, through your local Zakat and Sadaqah. However, we are finding that many of those we’ve supported are returning to apply for Zakat again, as they struggle to keep up with the rising cost of living. From one struggle to another, we don’t want to see them suffering here in Australia after everything they’ve already endured. We need your continued support to provide the crucial help they need as they rebuild their lives here.

*Last Updated: 18th September 2025