October 15th 2024.
The Australian government has recently made a decision to raise its travel advice for those planning to visit Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories. This is due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that shows no signs of slowing down. The government is urging Australians to avoid traveling to these areas, citing concerns about the volatile security situation, armed conflict, civil unrest, and terrorism.
The escalation of tensions between Israel, Iran, and Lebanon has caused the Australian government to take action and warn its citizens of the potential dangers. They have advised Australians who are currently in Israel to leave while commercial flights are still available. This decision was made after careful consideration of the ongoing threat of missile and rocket attacks in Israel.
According to the Federal Smartraveller site, there is a high risk of military and terrorist attacks not only in Israel but also in the surrounding regions. The security situation is unpredictable and could deteriorate rapidly without much warning. This has resulted in airspace closures, flight cancellations, and other travel disruptions. As a precaution, the government is also cautioning travelers to stay away from border crossings into Lebanon.
This latest travel warning comes after a recent attack in which Iran fired 180 missiles into Israel on October 1. It is not the first time that Australians have been advised to leave the region. Just a week prior, over 500 Australians were evacuated from Lebanon as Israel launched a counterattack with over 100 missiles.
For those who are currently in Israel or the occupied Palestinian Territories, the government is urging them to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's crisis registration portal. This will help the government keep track of citizens who may need assistance during this tumultuous time.
The situation in the Middle East has been escalating since the initial attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1200 people and the hostage-taking of 250 others. Since then, the death toll has continued to rise, with over 41,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza alone. The majority of these victims have been women and children, and the death toll is expected to rise as the conflict rages on in Iran, Lebanon, and Israel. It is a concerning and volatile situation that the Australian government is closely monitoring.
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