Australians Warned Not to Visit Lebanon

Protesters try to remove barbed wires that block a road leading to the U.S. embassy, during a demonstration in Beirut, Lebanon, on Oct. 18, 2023. AP Photo/Bilal Hussein

Australians have been warned not to travel to Lebanon amid a security breakdown and escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

On Oct. 19, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued an update through Smart Traveller—a website run by the department aiming to provide consular assistance and advice regarding international travel—urging Australians to avoid travelling to Lebanon, and for citizens currently in the Middle-Eastern nation to leave.

“If you’re in Lebanon and wish to leave, you should depart through the first available commercial option as soon as you’re available to do so,” the update reads.

“Airports may pause operations with little notice due to heightened security concerns. This may cause flight delays or cancellations for a sustained period. The Australian government’s ability to assist you to depart Lebanon will be very limited in a deteriorating security situation.”

The update also warned of the precarious occurrence of terrorist attacks across the country, including in its capital Beirut.

In the wake of the latest Israel-Palestine war, mass demonstrations have broken out across the Middle East in solidarity with Palestinians, especially after a recent explosion at the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza.

The cause of the explosion is contentious.

Israeli officials claim it was the doing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group—a Gaza-based paramilitary organisation—saying the organisation misfired one of its own rockets into the hospital.

Hamas maintains the explosion was the result of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) airstrike. According to Gazan ministers, the incident claimed the lives of 300-500 civilians.

Following Hamas’ “zero-hour” provocation of Israel on Oct. 7, unrest has erupted in neighbouring Middle-Eastern countries.

In Lebanon, the terrorist organisation Hezbollah is now militarily confronting Israel on the former’s Northern border.

In the capital Beirut, protestors are regularly engaging with Lebanese police and security forces outside the U.S. embassy, often leading to the use of tear gas and water cannons to diffuse the situation.

Hezbollah is similar to Hamas in that it primarily operates as a political party with a prominent military arm.

The party holds a number of cabinet positions within the Lebanese Parliament and exerts influence on domestic affairs through an extensive network of welfare services, schools, and TV stations.

It operates as an enterprise, with various business interests raking in hundreds of millions of dollars, while also receiving large donations from the Iranian regime.

Biden’s Israel Visit

As war rages on, U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in Tel Aviv on Oct. 18, greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion Airport.

The president announced the United States would provide $100 million in aid to Palestinians. He also brokered a deal with Israel to allow further humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

However, much of the recent unrest has been blamed on the Biden administration’s recent negotiations with Iran.

In August, Washington and Tehran agreed on a deal for the former to transfer $6 billion in Iranian funds previously frozen in South Korea. In exchange, Iran would release five detained U.S. citizens.

Iran has been a longtime ally and supporter of Hamas, providing millions of dollars in financial aid that has been used to fund various civilian and military activities. Iran has expressed its allegiance to and sympathies with the Palestinian movement on the global stage, helping legitimise Hamas.

Under former U.S. President Donald Trump, a sanction was imposed on Iran’s oil exports and banking sector. The $6 billion in question comprises oil revenues previously frozen in South Korean bank accounts.

Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel was also timed to coincide with ongoing negotiations between the United States and Saudi Arabia for the latter to formally recognise Israel.

Foreign Minister Weighs In

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong addressed the Senate earlier in the week regarding the ongoing conflict, urging fellow MPs to condemn Hamas in support of Israel.

“The Senate must condemn these acts of evil perpetrated by a hateful group bent on the destruction of the State of Israel and the eradication of Jews. This was an assault on Israel, on the Jewish people. But also an attack on our collective humanity,” Ms. Wong said.

Senator Wong also outlined her belief in the importance of distinguishing Hamas as an organisation from everyday Palestinian people whilst also cementing her government’s support of a two-state solution.

“We need to be clear in differentiating Hamas from the Palestinian people, just as we would distinguish between the Taliban and Afghans,” she said.

“Hamas is a terrorist group that rules Gaza with no regard for the safety and security of the Palestinian people who live there. The Albanese government’s guiding principle has always been the pursuit of peace and progress toward a just and enduring two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live within secure borders.”