Australia cancels flights out of Israel amid fears of violence escalating in region

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”.

“The situation on the ground is obviously very volatile, and it is changing rapidly,” Wong said. “I spent a lot of time on the phones today to see if there was any way we could find alternatives, and I understand how distressing this is for people.”

Before the government confirmed the cancellation of the two plannedflights, Wong expressed concern about deteriorating conditions in Gaza. Earlier in the day, the US president, Joe Biden, said it was a priority to “urgently address the humanitarian crisis” in Gaza.

“We can’t lose sight of the fact that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas and Hamas’s appalling attacks, and they’re suffering as a result as well,” Biden said.

Wong echoed those concerns. “President Biden has called on Israel to operate by the rules of war in its response to Hamas attacks – we join him and others in that call,” Australia’s foreign minister said.

“We call for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to civilians affected by the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza [and] we call for the establishment of a corridor to enable humanitarian needs to be met.

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“Adherence to international humanitarian law must be prioritised – including the protection of civilians, wherever they live.”

The Australian government is providing $3m to the International Committee of the Red Cross to restore essential services, and $7m through the UN to fund emergency water, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene services, as well as child protection.

Wong said on Saturday night the government would “continue to monitor and assess the humanitarian situation and stands ready to provide further support”.