Boosted efforts are being made by the Australian government to ensure the safe return of Australians stranded in the war-stricken region of Israel. The unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza has left at least 19 Australians in a precarious situation, with their safety hanging in the balance.
In light of these alarming circumstances, the Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong validated the dispatching of more assisted departure flights for well over 10,000 Australians currently in Israel and intending to leave. The number includes 1,600 individuals who have duly registered their departure intentions with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Minister strongly advised those looking to leave to act promptly, reinforcing the gravity of the situation.
In collaboration with Qantas, two repatriation flights have already been commissioned to transport hundreds of Australians to safety, with London as the destination. The first repatriation flight is scheduled to occur on Friday, with around 200 passengers expected. An announcement on Friday morning confirmed the addition of two more charter flights backed by Qantas.
For Australians reaching London on the assisted departure flights, Qantas has kindly offered to facilitate their return to Sydney via Singapore, free of any charge. “The Australian government is actively working on travel plans from Dubai and providing necessary support to those who cannot reach Tel Aviv,” stated Senator Wong and Transport Minister Catherine King in a synchronized declaration.
The government has further implored Australians capable of crossing into Jordan to do so, asking them to notify DFAT before action.
In this ongoing conflict, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the government was focused on aiding Australians recorded to be in Gaza through this extremely dangerous and unstable situation. The region came under an unexpected attack over the weekend by Hamas, a group Australia recognizes as a terrorist organization, sparking off wide-scale violence.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has led to numerous civilian losses, with the situation in the Palestinian territory exacerbated by Israel’s decision to cut off access to food, electricity, and medical supplies unless Hamas releases its hostages.
Assessing the condition in Gaza as “dire” and its impacts as “devastating”, the United Nations cautions of the dangers faced by its occupants.
Prime Minister Albanese emphasized the unwavering efforts by DFAT to ensure the safety of Australians, regardless of geographical boundaries, acknowledging the 19 individuals who have registered to leave fighting-ridden Gaza.
“We’re in dialogue with the Egyptian government on strategies to evacuate these individuals into safer regions. The situation is complex but we’re doing our utmost,” he explained.
A South Australian family residing in Gaza highlighted their intense fear for their safety. In direct appeals to the Australian citizens in Gaza, Senator Wong acknowledged the extreme complexity of the situation on-ground. She elaborated on the interactions held with officials and the ongoing efforts to establish humanitarian corridors with Egypt and the United States.
As a testament to the government’s commitment, she declared the readiness to accept all assistance offered. In response to offers from Qatar Airways and Virgin, she reiterated her previous plea to Australians to hasten their departure registration process.
“Hold us accountable, and we will make every effort to get you onboard the first available flight out of the crisis zone,” she added.
