DFAT cancels Aussie rescues in Israel amid Iran missile fears

DFAT has cancelled buses taking Australians out of Israel as the world braces for Iran’s retaliation to America’s strikes on its nuclear facilities.

In cosmopolitan Tel Aviv, where daily life is punctuated with missile alerts, reactions ranged from relief to fear as news of the US strike on Iran spread.

Barista Eran Shemesh said he felt a giant sense of “relief” just hours after learning of Donald Trump’s blow to Tehran’s nuclear facilities.

“I feel much better because Trump got involved, because he put bombs in Fordow where the nuclear plant is, I think it’s a good thing,” the 54-year-old said.

“I think he helped all the world, not only us”.

Mr Shemesh, who works at a neighbourhood cafe in central Tel Aviv, said it’s become part of normal life to experience military attacks.

Since Iran launched its latest ballistic missile attacks on Israel he said “it feels the same”.

Eran Shemesh, 54, serves coffee at his downtown Tel Aviv cafe. Picture: Jordan Polevoy

Only hours earlier he abandoned making coffees and he and his customers rushed to a nearby bomb shelter located just metres behind the outdoor cafe as the city was alerted to an incoming Iranian attack.

But he said the fear of being attacked never dissipates, particularly among many of his customers.

“I think everybody is scared, some of them are scared, some of them are less scared,” Mr Shemesh said.

“There’s people who show it and there’s people who don’t show it”.

Iran’s revenge for Trump’s strike was swift.

About 7.30am (3.30pm AEST) phones pinged with “extreme alerts” and sirens across Tel Aviv, the second largest city in Israel, with direct impact felt across the city.

Many people swimming could hear over the loudspeakers dotted along the beach front that they had to quickly rush from the water and to the closest safe room or bunker.

People across the city remained locked down for about 30 minutes before they were informed it was safe to leave where they had run to safety.

Within a short time many people were sitting in cafes and outside in parks, however across Israel the country remained extremely quiet as restrictions have been enforced on residents and schools, kindergartens and businesses remain shut but essential services including some chemist, supermarkets and some cafes and bakeries are open.

Shmuel Bran, 28, a software engineer from Tel Aviv. Photo: Jordan Polevoy.

Software engineer Shmuel Bran, 28, from Tel Aviv, was having a coffee and cigarette at a cafe and said, “We’ve been waiting for this”.

“Israel, we are regular to this s***, so it’s not that different, missiles are bigger so we are worried about it,” he said.

“We are happy that we continue to win.

“Honestly I feel more safe now because the Iranian issue is always in our state of mind, so now it feels like it can be over, for 25 years in Israel we have worried about this nuke issue in Iran.

“Now we feel like we can maybe get over it and it’s safer.”

Another Tel Aviv resident, 62-year-old woman Hagar, who said she did not feel safe giving her surname, said it’s “good news for Israel”.

“I’m scared but I think they (Iran) have thought about attacking America because they attacked them, but I know if they attack Israel it’s like attacking America,” she said.

One man at the cafe, who would not be named, expressed his anger when he was asked about the latest situation with Iran and he lashed out at the Australian government and said it had failed to support Israel.

Israeli security forces and rescue teams rush to the scene of an Iranian strike that hit Ness Ziona in central Israel (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)

Australians trying to flee Israel and had planned to leave on buses on Sunday morning were also told the services have been cancelled.

In correspondence seen by News Corp, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Australians, “the bus from Tel Aviv to Jordan will not depart today”.

“Please do not travel to the departure point,” the alert from DFAT said.

“If you have already started to travel, please contact us and we may be able to provide assistance”.

Australian Gili Inbar, 25, from Melbourne, was scheduled to leave on a bus from Tel Aviv on Sunday morning and begin to make his way home but was told the service had been cancelled.

“Despite personal inconveniences in returning home, I completely understand DFAT’s decision in cancelling today’s bus departure,” he told News Corp.

“I’m glad I and my family are safe and am hoping for a swift resolution to this war.”

Latest figures show about 3800 Australians and their family members have registered with DFAT to try and depart from the Middle East as soon as possible.

About 2600 Australians are in Iran and 1200 are in Israel.