Aussie mum trapped in Israel a 'prisoner in her house'

“I just really want to be back in Australia for a little while to protect my kids, but I don’t feel like the government has done much to help us get home.”

An Aussie mum has described being a “prisoner in her house” after being trapped in Israel following the weekend’s violent conflict near the Gaza Strip.

7Newsreports Nicole Brodie Nahm and her three children have been sheltering in their apartment north of Tel Aviv, about 70km from the Gaza Strip.

Nicole said the family had all been sleeping together in her daughter’s room where their bomb shelter is, and had been listening to explosions “for days”.

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“Honestly, that doesn’t scare me, which sounds ridiculous,” she told 7News.

“What scares me is when there is a group of terrorists driving around with guns shooting everyone.

“Our babysitter’s boyfriend was murdered. It’s unimaginable the things that are happening.

“There’s no description for the evil that is going on right now.”

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Nicole Brodie Nahum with her three kids and partner. Nicole wants to return to Australia after the outbreak of war in Israel. PIcture: 7News

"I want to protect my kids"

Nicole used to live in Melbourne’s southeast, and is now desperate to return home with her daughter, who is a dual citizen, and her twin sons who are both Israeli.

However, the Australian Government has not provided repatriation flights, and the first commercial flight is not available until Saturday.

“Last night I went to do the visa and I couldn’t even finish filling out the forms because it’s just a lot,” Nicole told 7News.

“I just really want to be back in Australia for a little while to protect my kids, but I don’t feel like the government has done much to help us get home.”

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Nicole speaks from the patio of her apartment north of Tel Aviv. Picture: 7News

More than 1000 dead after weekend violence

An estimated 10,000 Australians currently live in Israel, and there are many more Aussies visiting the country as tourists.

7News reports more than 1000 people have been killed since Hamas militants broke through the border fence separating the Gaza Strip from Israel and began killing and kidnapping Israelis.

At least 700 people were killed in Israel by the militants, and another 100 have been kidnapped.

Another 570 people were killed in Gaza and the West Bank due to retaliation from the Israeli Military, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Originally published as Aussie mum trapped in Israel a 'prisoner in her house'