Extract from The New Daily
Source: X / Reuters
The first two flights carrying hundreds of Australians fleeing Lebanon have landed in Cyprus after the federal government warned them to leave the war-torn country immediately.
On Saturday morning, the government revealed it had secured seats on flights out of Lebanon for Australians, permanent residents and their immediate families.
“Do not wait, leave immediately,” the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.
A further two flights were planned for Sunday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong posted to X, formerly Twitter, Saturday evening.
Planning has already been under way with Qantas, which will operate two non-stop Boeing 787 flights from Cyprus to Sydney with capacity for up to 440 passengers.
The first 22-hour flight will depart on Monday evening local time, arriving in Sydney on Tuesday, while the second will leave on Wednesday.
Qantas has put the word out for pilots and cabin crew members to volunteer to operate the free flights.
“This is expected to be oversubscribed as it was with the special assistance flights from Tel Aviv in October 2023, when 900 cabin crew expressed their interest for 70 positions,” the airline said.
About 4900 registered Australians are in Lebanon. More than 3000 are registered as wanting to leave. It’s believed more than 700 people have already left.
At Larnaca airport, in Cyprus, civilians of all ages transferred from an aircraft into a terminal and were then escorted onto waiting coaches.
Children helped themselves to red apples and water provided by Australian military staff.
“They are exhausted, exceptionally happy to be here but heartbroken because they left family behind,” Australian High Commissioner to Cyprus Fiona McKergow said.
Anniversary vigils begin
A candlelight vigil will be held at a secret location on the eve of the first anniversary of a deadly Hamas-led attack on Israel.
Jewish community representatives will lead an hour-long sunset candle-lighting ceremony in Sydney’s east on Sunday.
The ceremony, featuring tributes to those killed and taken hostage by Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023, will be the first major Australian event marking the anniversary.
Multiple speakers including yet-to-be-announced guests from Israel will address the event, which was jointly organised by the Israeli embassy, Zionist Federation and NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.
Vigils will also be held in Sydney and Melbourne on Monday evening, with police in Victoria bolstering patrols around the community event and synagogues.
The events of October 7 reignited a decades-long conflict in the Middle East, first in the Gaza Strip before intensifying in Lebanon in recent weeks.
Supporters of Palestine will rally at Melbourne’s State Library and Sydney’s Town Hall on Sunday as they do every week, with a heavy police presence expected at both events.
Organisers of the NSW protest brokered a deal not to march near Sydney’s Great Synagogue.
A vigil for those killed in Gaza will be held near the city centre on Monday, with another event at Lakemba Mosque.
Police chiefs around the nation had raised concerns some people could use the rallies to display symbols linked to designated terror groups such as Hezbollah after last weekend’s protests featured a small number of Hezbollah flags and images of leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by Israel.
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