Amid escalation of tensions in the Middle East, the Australian government on Friday urgently advised its citizens in Israel and the Palestinian territories to consider leaving if it were safe to do so.
This heightened warning, conveyed through an update in the travel advisory by the Department of Foreign Affairs, pointed to a “high threat of military reprisals and terrorist attacks.”
This advisory reflected deepening concerns as hostilities in the region took a dire turn.
The background of this situation was marked by a significant increase in direct military exchanges between Israel and Iran, a notable shift from the years of sporadic, indirect, and covert hostilities that characterized their long-standing feud. Such direct confrontations had now amplified the risk of further instability in the region.
“We urge Australians in both Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories to depart if it’s safe to do so,” stated the travel advisory, emphasizing the urgency as the conflict appeared to escalate further. The Australian government had already been cautious, previously advising against travel to these areas and recommending departure to those who were already there and concerned for their safety.
The advisory elaborated on potential complications for travelers, noting that, “Military attacks may result in airspace closures, flight cancellations and diversions and other travel disruptions.”
It also specifically warned that operations at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport could be unpredictably halted, citing “heightened security concerns at any time, and at short notice.”
The broader regional situation was also deteriorating. On the same Friday, a series of explosions rocked Iran, Syria, and Iraq, intensifying global apprehensions about the stability of oil supplies, a critical concern for many nations including Australia.
These explosions had an immediate impact on global markets, with oil prices surging more than three percent in early Asian trade, as reported by AFP.
These developments underscored the volatile and unpredictable nature of the crisis, prompting the Australian government’s urgent call for its nationals to secure their safety amidst the unfolding chaos.
