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16 October, 2023

Aussie passengers rejoice as repatriation flights from Israel take off

Australians citizens living in Israel have successfully gotten on repatriation flights out of the region amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

The three flights left Tel Aviv overnight, with more than 250 Australians on board, foreign affairs minister Penny Wong told Today.

Video on Today shows Aussies chanting, “Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi” as they were boarding one of the flights.

She said that Aussies were flown to Dubai on two RAAF flights, and a privately contracted one.

Qantas operated a repatriation flight from Tel Aviv to London over the weekend which brought 238 people to London.

The first Australian Government assisted-departure flight landed in London from Tel Aviv today with 238 Australians and their family members on board.
Relieved to know those Australians are on their way home and thank Australian officials and Qantas staff for their work. pic.twitter.com/NKSSerJgjp
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) October 14, 2023

The government is in works to arrange another flight to bring Aussies home and Wong has urged those in the region to leave if they wanted to.

“I’ve been saying for some days … that if people wish to leave, that they should take the first available option – they should not wait for another option,” Wong said. On Sunday, she posted on social media that the government is arranging flights from Dubai to Australia.

Of the 255 people on the repatriation flights, most were Aussie citizens with some non-citizen family members, according to home affairs minister Clare O’Neil.

“We still have a number of people who are in Israel who would like to leave and we are working as a first priority as a government on making sure that we can assist people to leave Israel wherever possible,” O’Neil said.

“What I would say is that this is a very challenging situation, which is growing worse by the day. If you get the opportunity to leave, you need to take that opportunity. Don’t wait for another chance. If you get the chance to leave, leave immediately.”

Amid this ongoing conflict, Wong has updated travel advice for those planning travel to Lebanon.

“I am now saying to Australians if you are in Lebanon, you should consider whether your need to remain there is essential,” Wong said.

“If you wish to leave you, you should consider the first available option.”

(Featured Image: People leaving Ben Gurion Airport – Twitter/@AusAmbIsrael)

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israel Repatriation flights