The first Israel repatriation flights will land in Sydney from Tuesday evening, as the Australian government announces no further flights will be leaving Tel Aviv.
Tuesday’s flight, operated by Qatar Airways, is scheduled to land at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport at about 5.55pm after departing from Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport on Monday.
It’s understood further domestic flights will be operated by Virgin Australia, with both Qatar and Virgin offering the flights free of charge in a move welcomed by the Australian government.
A second flight operated by Qantas will depart London’s Heathrow Airport at Tuesday 9am local time, and is scheduled to arrive in Sydney on Wednesday evening.
On Tuesday morning, Defence Minister Richard Marles said no further repatriation flights are planned to leave Israel, after two lights carrying 194 left Tel Aviv for Dubai overnight.
“We believe that these flights do meet the immediate demand on the part of Australians to leave Israel,” he said.
“That said, we are keeping a couple of Air Force planes in the region as a contingency over the coming days.”
He said the government were currently in contact with at least 45 Australians who are currently in Gaza, and will be assisting them to reach safety.
“We are encouraging them to move south within Gaza, to heed the call of Israel in that respect and we’re working with our friends in the international community to see whether a humanitarian corridor can be established out of Gaza, but at this stage that hasn’t happened,” he said.