“What’s happened here is a senseless act of violence … and the Australian government condemns it in the strongest possible terms.
“I say to the Jewish community, we’re standing with you, wrapping our arms around and you and I express my deepest condolences for what has happened.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong is leading efforts by the government to help the estimated 10,000 Australian residents or travellers in Israel who want to leave.
“What has occurred here is a needless act of violence… and the Australian government condemns it in the strongest terms imaginable.
“I say to the Jewish community, we’re standing with you, wrapping our arms around and you and I express my deepest condolences for what has happened.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong is leading the government’s efforts to assist the estimated 10,000 Australian residents or visitors in Israel who wish to leave.
Asher Lilley, who is stuck in Tel Aviv with her sister, described the situation as frightening. The couple has a commercial flight scheduled but is concerned about disruptions.
“Every single day, more and more flights are getting cancelled and all we can do is just hope that we are actually going to be able to get out,” she said on Nine’s Today programme.
Lilley said the Australian embassy told her “we hope it works out” after she contacted them and informed them she had a commercial ticket booked.
“[It was] as if we just missed a flight, whereas we’re stuck in a literal war zone,” she went on to say.
“The communication has been appalling, and it just isn’t good enough… What is the sense of having an embassy if it isn’t fulfilling its job?
“We need to do better – it’s so scary being stuck in a war zone, we just want to get out, we just want to get home.”
More than 1000 people were killed as the Islamist party Hamas launched an offensive from the Palestinian territories against Israeli communities.
The victims were mostly civilians who were gunned down in their houses, on the streets, and during an outdoor dance party.
Hundreds of Israelis and tourists were kidnapped and carried to Gaza as captives. Some were paraded around town.
According to News Corp, Adi Kaplon, the daughter-in-law of an Australian man, is being held prisoner by Hamas.
The Australian government has not verified the presence of any captives.
The Israeli government has imposed a total embargo on Gaza, cutting off food, fuel, water, and power.
Hamas, a terrorist organisation blacklisted by Australia, has threatened to execute hostages if the bombings continue without notice.
The Australian Government has received confirmation of the tragic death of Galit Carbone, an Australian citizen murdered in the attacks on Israel by terrorist group Hamas.
On behalf of the Government, I send our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Ms Carbone.
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) October 10, 2023
The Palestinian community in Australia is dissatisfied with the federal government’s and other political leaders’ reactions to the assault and Israel’s response.
“Palestinian Australians and their supporters have been horrified by the one-sided response,” said Nasser Mashni, head of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network.
“[Israel] must not be given carte blanche to think they can get away with a genocide” .
Wong stated that civilians must be safeguarded but did not comment on whether Tel Aviv should exhibit prudence in its siege.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged long-standing Palestinian suffering, but stressed that “nothing justified what we saw over the weekend.”
