‘Take the First Flight’: Australians Urged to Leave Israel-Hamas Conflict Zone

Protesters clash with Lebanese security forces on Oct. 18, 2023, outside the US Embassy on Oct. 17, 2023. Joseph Eid/Getty Images

Australians stuck in the Israel and Hamas conflict are being warned by the government to return home as quickly as possible.

The war has escalated further in recent hours, with footage of hundreds of people hit by a Gaza hospital blast emerging online.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil alerted Aussies the situation overseas is “deteriorating rapidly” and that it is best for Australians to get on a flight as soon as possible.

“The situation in the Middle East is deteriorating rapidly ... take the first flight offered to you and get back to Australia as quickly as you can,” Ms. O'Neil said on Sunrise.

“We are urging people, if you are in Israel at the moment and you want to leave, leave immediately.”

46 Australians Stuck in Gaza

Overnight, the number of Australians trapped in Gaza rose to 46, and around 1,200 people in the conflict zone are maintaining contact with the Australian Government.

Ms. O'Neil noted recent flights out of Israel had spare seats on them and people may not be able to leave later.

“There are planeloads coming back with empty seats on them as people who say they want to leave then later decide not to,” Ms. O'Neil said.

A Qatar Airways flight from Dubai carrying 200 people from Israel landed at Sydney Airport on the night of Oct. 17.

Meanwhile, a hospital has been struck in Gaza, killing 500 people. The health ministry in Gaza blamed Israel, however, Israel has denied any involvement.

“Media outlets around the globe were quick to run Hamas’ headlines—without fact-checking. We now know that an Islamic Jihad rocket aimed at Israel misfired and hit the hospital in Gaza,” Israel Defense Forces said on Oct. 18.

The Israel Defence Forces noted at 18.59 a rocket aimed at Israel “misfired and exploded,” the exact same time a hospital was hit in Gaza.

International Leaders Weigh in

Foreign Minister Penny Wong commented on the incident in a social media post today.

“The scenes from the explosion at a Gaza City hospital are deeply distressing. It is clear there has been a devastating loss of life. Our thoughts are with those killed, those injured, and their loved ones,” Ms. Wong said.

“The protection of civilian lives must come first and respect for international humanitarian law is paramount. We condemn any indiscriminate attacks and targeting of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was also quick to condemn the bombing of the hospital, saying “The news coming out of Gaza is horrific and absolutely unacceptable.”

“International humanitarian and international law needs to be respected in this and in all cases. There are rules around wars and it’s not acceptable.”

President Joe Biden is due to arrive in Israel on Wednesday.

At least 1,200 Israelis have been killed and 155 kidnapped, including babies, since Hamas terrorists launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, its military said.

The Australian Government is working with the international community to find ways to establish a humanitarian corridor out of Gaza to ensure the safety of Australians trapped there without adequate food and water.

“We are looking at ways in which and working very hard to find ways in which we can get those people to safety, and that obviously includes working with other countries around the establishment of a humanitarian corridor out of Gaza,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Miles said on Tuesday.