Australians trapped in Israel slam DFAT’s ‘absolutely shambolic’ evacuation

As tensions with Iran reach new heights, Australians trapped in Israel have revealed the “shambolic” DFAT effort to get them out.

Desperate Australians trying to flee Israel are furious they were given just 55 minutes notice by the Australian government that an evacuation bus service would be leaving Tel Aviv and say the process has been “absolutely shambolic”.

In emails seen by News Corp, The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Australians on Wednesday morning at 10.35am (5.35pm AEST) that at “short notice” a bus would be departing the InterContinental David hotel in central Tel Aviv at 11.30am and be travelling to Amman, Jordan to help them make their home way back to Australia.

People take cover in an underground train station transformed into a public shelter following reports of an incoming missile fired from Iran in Ramat Gan, Israel. Picture: Getty Images

One irate Australian man, who did not wish to be named, said it was a “ridiculous” ask by the government to get people to be organised and on a bus departing within less than an hour.

“I’m not taking the piss, we got an email at 10.35am for an 11.30am departure,” the annoyed 25-year-old Melbourne man said.

“That’s 20 to 25 minutes to pack your stuff, shower, make sure everything is ready and say goodbye to your family and friends, get in the car and have cash for the Jordan border crossing.

“It’s quite insane and not to forget we’ve had three or four bomb sirens.

“It’s a joke because to get in and out of Tel Aviv on most days is hard enough with traffic … it’s still for most people at least a 20 to 25 minute drive if you’re not in the Tel Aviv CBD”.

Iran launched a retaliatory missile strike on Israel starting late on June 13, after a series of Israeli air strikes earlier in the day targeted Iranian military and nuclear sites, as well as top military officials. Picture: Getty Images

DFAT has organised another bus for Australians to depart Tel Aviv on Thursday and help them get out of the Middle East region as attacks continue between Israel and Iran.

The Melbourne man also said those who registered for the evacuation services have not been told which border they would be crossing and what the estimated travel time would be, making it impossible to book flights home to Australia.

Earlier in the week DFAT also bungled the handling of personal information from stranded Australians registering their interest to leave Israel and instead directed users to a web page where they could sign up for language interpretation services.

DFAT has been contacted for comment.

Sirens continued to sound across Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening (Thursday AEST) – there was a warning for a missile attack launched by Iran and many people along the city’s beachfront were among those seen running for shelter in a nearby carpark.

The Israel Defence Forces’ Home Front Command has also updated its restrictions imposed on civilians across the country including increasing gatherings for up to 30 people, while schools and beaches remain shut.

While many public spaces remain relatively quiet, some people are still out exercising and seeing friends in small groups, but a normally thriving Tel Aviv is at times eerily quiet.

Shops and restaurants remained closed and many people continued to bunker down inside their homes.

People shelter in an underground metro station as air raid sirens warn of incoming strikes by Iran, in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, Israel. Picture: AP

Barat Moritz, 27, who is on holiday in Israel from America, said while he is hoping to return to America soon, just days earlier he was involved in a rescue mission.

He spent more than 12 hours helping pull bodies from the building of the missile attack on a Bat Yam high-rise building that left nine people dead.

“We were searching through rubble for about 12 hours,” Mr Moritz recalled after the strike.

“It was very tough, if it felt good to be doing something and helping in some way, we were looking for survivors really, that’s what we were searching for”.

Visiting a friend who works in the Army Reserves in the search and rescue division, Mr Moritz said after they heard about and after the missile attack on the high-rise building in the early hours of Sunday morning, he quickly put on an reserves uniform and donned safety equipment to try and help his friend in the giant rescue efforts.

People take cover in an underground train station transformed into a public shelter in Ramat Gan, Israel. Picture: Getty Images

“Now I’m stuck here but I’m not complaining, we have beautiful people and we have beautiful people in Tel Aviv, it really does feel like it’s amazing to come back here because of how resilient the people here are,” he said.

“They always make the best of everything”.

DFAT’s travel advice for Australians remains at a “do not travel” warning to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those in the Middle East region are being warned that border crossing may be closed without notice.

Australians have been encouraged to register on the DFAT crisis portal and told: “Roads may be crowded and exposed to security risks such as military action, rocket attacks and terrorism, as may border crossings.

“Use your judgement to decide the best time and safest means of exit”.

Many thousands of people are continuing to flee Israel via the land border crossing as the country’s Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv remains shut until further notice.

Two land borders between Israel and Jordan remain open – the Sheikh Hussein/Jordan River near Irbid and Wadi Araba near Aqaba.