The federal government has begun mobilising its plans to repatriate Australian citizens from Israel, which has declared war on the designated terrorist organisation Hamas.
More than 1200 Israelis have been killed and more than 2700 wounded after an hours-long rampage by militants who breached the fence enclosing Gaza on Saturday. Scores of citizens were taken hostage.
More than 1000 Palestinians are believed to have died and more than 5000 were wounded in retaliatory air strikes on Gaza.
Major airlines have since suspended or cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv.
With roughly 10,000 Australian residents and even more tourists stranded in Israel, Australian authorities are still trying to ascertain their status and bring home those who want to leave.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said it was possible there would be a large demand for the flights.
“We don’t know exactly what’s going to happen in the coming weeks and months and it’s possible there will be an initial rush of people out of Israel but then later others will want to leave,” she told ABC TV on Thursday.
Asked if defence force planes were a better option than commercial aircraft, after British Airways stopped flights to Tel Aviv as rockets flew over the city, Ms O’Neil said the foreign minister was working through the details.
“It’s going to be something that needs to shift and change a little bit as the security situation changes,” she said.
“At this stage, those Qantas flights are our starting point and we’ll continue to work very hard to make sure that Australians who need to leave are able to do so.”
The free-of-charge effort will begin on Friday, when two flights will depart Ben Gurion Airport for London. Options are being worked on for Australians who will need onward support from London.
The planes are likely to be Boeing 787s, which can carry around 250 people.
Australians who want to make use of those assisted departure flights, or are unable to reach the terminal, have been advised to call the federal government’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre.
Among those killed in Israel was Australian grandmother Galit Carbone, 66, who died at the hands of the Hamas militants who attacked her village, just kilometres from the Gaza border.
In a speech at a Melbourne synagogue, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the lives lost in the violence.
“The targeting of civilians and taking of hostages is an affront to all Australians and we condemn these horrific acts,” he said.
Mr Albanese also assured the Jewish community that anti-Semitism and hateful prejudice have no place in Australia.
“We cannot lighten the weight that is upon you, but we hold you in our hearts,” the prime minister said.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said it was “unbelievable” if it was true that the federal government’s national security committee had not yet met to discuss the situation in the Middle East.
“These are simple questions that need pretty significant contemplation about the best way to keep Australians safe,” he told reporters in Brisbane.
The prime minister, defence minister and home affairs minister said they would not comment on the timing of national security cabinet meetings.
Consular Emergency Centre (from overseas) +61 2 6261 3305
Consular Emergency Centre (within Australia) 1300 555 135
