This was published 7 months ago
Australians who fled Israel say they fear being targeted by antisemitism at home
London: Australians evacuated from Israel say they were horrified by scenes in Australia of Palestinian supporters celebrating Hamas’ terrorist attacks and will remain wary at home even though they are relieved to have left the Middle East.
A Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 241 people on board, operating as an official Australian government flight under a Royal Australian Air Force call sign, landed from Tel Aviv at London’s Heathrow Airport on Friday night (UK time).
Members of Britain’s Jewish community welcomed the Australians upon their arrival.Credit: Domenico Pugliese
But a second flight due to leave Tel Aviv on Saturday and a potential third operated by Qantas on Sunday were cancelled due to the deteriorating security situation, as sirens sounded in the city, warning of imminent rocket attacks.
“The situation is highly challenging and rapidly changing,” the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
“Unfortunately, we have been advised our scheduled flights will not depart Israel today.
“A further flight will not depart as scheduled tomorrow.”
Sunday’s flight was set to carry roughly 240 Australian-Israelis abroad. Qantas is providing repatriation flights to passengers free of charge. It is hoped the flights can still go ahead at a later stage.
“Qantas has been running constant safety assessments for its planned flights to Tel Aviv in consultation with government agencies,” a spokesperson for the airline said.
“Based on latest assessments, the difficult decision has been made not to operate the second flight to Tel Aviv on Sunday due to continued deterioration of conditions on the ground in Israel for safety reasons.
“We remain committed to helping to bring Australians home and are in discussions with government about other ports in the Middle East that Qantas and partner Emirates could fly into to assist with broader evacuation efforts.”
Wong said about 825 Australians had left Israel and the Palestinian territories. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was working to secure the safety of about 20 Australians seeking to leave Gaza.
Members of Britain’s Jewish community greeted the arrivals at Heathrow, holding homemade signs that read “Welcome to the UK” in English and Hebrew.
Israeli-born Australians Assaf Hochberg and Arbel Mordoch left Israel with their three children.Credit: Domenico Pugliese
Disembarking at Terminal 3, the weary Australians said they were happy and relieved to be in the UK. Many were continuing on home, but recent incidents – including the protest outside the Sydney Opera House where the Israeli flag was burnt and some protesters issued antisemitic chants – had left them wary.
When asked if she felt safe having left Israel, Arbel Mordoch, an Israeli-born Sydneysider and mother of three, said: “Not entirely, to be honest, at this point. There’s a lot of hate towards us.”
Israeli-born Jack Sharabani said extremism was not something that only threatened Israelis.
“You guys don’t understand, it’s in your back garden, they’re already inside you,” he said.
“The Western world is next. The people that are celebrating these attacks, they don’t want to live in the Western world.
“Once they understand they won’t be able to finish Israel off, they’re ready for you.”
Sharabani’s wife’s cousin, also an Australian, attended the Supernova music festival where Hamas massacred festival-goers. He has not talked about what he witnessed.
“He’s traumatised,” said Shani, Jack’s wife. “I told him about the flight to get out but he said, ‘I have to stay here for my country’.
“A lot of people don’t want to leave.”
Melbourne-born Israeli Ronit Raymond, 38, said she had been reluctant to pack up and go. “I cried exiting Israel,” she said.
“I left because my family had to go back to Australia.
“My heart is in Israel and I’m just going to be in Melbourne waiting to hear from my family and friends in Israel about what’s going on.”
Israeli-born Australians Shani Sharabani and her husband Jack Sharabani.Credit: Domenico Pugliese
Raymond said she was a turmoil of emotions since last weekend’s attack.
“Angry is not the word to explain it – deep sorrow, anger, sadness, fury, fear for my people,” she said.
“The world needs to wake up, it’s just infuriating the lies about Israel, that Israel’s the aggressor.
“Israel’s a small country and has a right to defend itself, and it’s been battling terrorism and antisemitism since its existence.”
The Israeli military on Friday instructed residents of Gaza City to move south ahead of a potential ground war. Hamas has told civilians to stay. Israel has cut off all food, water and electricity to Gaza, saying Hamas must release the hostages captured last weekend. Aid agencies have warned that the blockade harms ordinary Palestinians, including those who do not support Hamas.
“There are innocent people there too, but they get warned to leave. I hope those who can, leave; this can’t be happening again,” Raymond said.
“Israel is going to win, but the price is incomprehensible.”
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