Nearly 100 Australians have landed in Dubai from Israel on an Australian repatriation flight. In total, more than 200 Australians evacuated from Israel have arrived home, as the government seeks to ensure safe passage for those trapped in Gaza.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday that a government-arranged flight arrived from Tel Aviv overnight with 99 passengers on board.
“We are planning an assisted departure flight from Dubai to Perth tonight,” he said.
“Qantas is offering those passengers free domestic travel.”
The government also helped Australians travel on an Emirates commercial flight from Dubai to Sydney.
Senator Wong said that due to “decreased demand for dedicated assisted departure flights, we have no immediate plans for more flights from Tel Aviv.”
“We continue to work with partners to assist the departure of Australians who want to leave Israel or the occupied Palestinian territories,” he said.
Commercial flights leaving Tel Aviv remain available, the foreign minister said.
More than 1,650 previously registered Australians have left Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is in contact with registered Australians about exit options.
The government has previously said there are 46 Australians in Gaza and their safety is unknown.
Greece’s Foreign Ministry advised Greeks to avoid traveling to Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon, while last week it repatriated 81 Greek citizens to Greece from Israel.
It has not yet been confirmed whether there are currently more Greeks in Gaza and whether there are still more people in Israel.
“We advise Greek citizens to avoid, except when absolutely necessary, non-essential travel to Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon,” the ministry said in a brief press release.
Source: AMNA, AFP and AAP
