The federal government is working with international partners on possible evacuation options from Lebanon but remains deeply concerned thousands of Australians won’t be able to get help.
Speaking to SBS World News from New York, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has again urged citizens and residents still in Lebanon to leave now.
“If you are able to leave, please leave. You know, whether or not it might be to a destination other than your most preferred destination,” she said.
“If you are able to leave on a commercial option, we would urge you to do so.”
The government is working with other nations to look at options for contingencies, including evacuations, but Wong declined to detail how that would work or provide any timeframe, warning there are “very large numbers of Australians who are in Lebanon” and
There are 15,000 Australians living in Lebanon, and some estimates suggest that with additional travellers, the number affected might be many thousands more.
Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant is foreshadowing “more strikes” against Hezbollah and maintains the offensive is working.
Wong was repeatedly pressed on whether Australia would back Israel if it goes ahead with a ground invasion in Lebanon.
“We have urged de-escalation, not escalation,” she told SBS News.
“We, with others in the international community, have urged that this conflict not be allowed to escalate across the region, and the reason is that that would be, you know, detrimental to and risky for all of the peoples of the region, including the people of Israel, as well as those in Lebanon.”
The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has told reporters in New York the country is open to those views.
“We are not eager to start any ground invasion anywhere … We prefer a diplomatic solution,” he said.
Wong is conducting high-level meetings with international partners on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, including on developing events in the Middle East.
“We always urge the observance of international law, including international humanitarian law,” Wong said.
“The principles of international law, including humanitarian law, that is, the protection of civilians apply even when a country is defending itself, even when the conflict is with a terrorist organisation.”
Lebanese Australian community leaders, including Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir, have called on the federal government to condemn Israel’s actions as an “atrocity”.
“I have already expressed concern publicly about civilian casualties and the potential for civilian casualties, and we will continue to do that,” Wong said in response.
