Cancellation comes as Australian government echoes US call for Israel to operate by the rules of war in its response to Hamas attacks
Two planned flights to evacuate Australians stranded in Israel have been cancelled amid growing fears of escalating violence in the region, although the Albanese government says it is working on alternatives to bring people to safety.
The cancellation of the two planned flights comes as Australia has echoed a call from the Biden administration for Israel to operate by the rules of war in its response to Hamas attacks, while pledging an additional $10m in humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by the conflict in Gaza.
Thousands of people have been fleeing to the southern half of Gaza before an expected ground invasion of the blockaded strip. Qantas said it had cancelled evacuation flights out of Tel Aviv because of advice about the deteriorating security situation on the ground.
Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong, told Sky News on Saturday night more than 800 Australians had managed to depart Israel since the onset of the war, including on Qantas flights to London, “but I know that there are many more people who are seeking to leave and I can assure you that the government and officials are working as hard as they can … to arrange flights and to get flights in”.
