The Australian government has announced at least two Qantas flights will help citizens leave Israel as the death toll in the region mounts.
Repatriation flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport to London will operate free of charge for Australians, who do not already have plans to leave through commercial options, with Qantas to absorb the operational costs.
The two flights will depart “starting Friday”, according to the government, but details of the flights are still being finalised between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) and Qantas.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said government-backed flights were needed because “many Australians are experiencing difficulties with delays and cancellations with commercial flights”.
“For Australians who do not already have plans to leave through commercial options, Australian government-assisted departure flights will depart from Friday,” Albanese told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Qantas expects to operate Boeing 787 Dreamliners – which can seat 236 passengers – on the route, subject to ongoing safety and security assessments, and regulatory approvals in several countries. “Arrangements for onward flights for those wanting to travel back to Australia are still being worked through,” the airline said.
As Qantas does not ordinarily fly to Tel Aviv, the airline has warned that taking the planes out of its existing international network will bring disruptions to customers booked on other foreign flights.
In a statement, foreign affairs minister Penny Wong said extra repatriation flights could be organised beyond the initial two already announced.
It is believed about 12,000 Australians are in Israel, although many of these are dual nationals who may not necessarily wish to leave.
The government said Australians who wanted to leave on the new flights must register with the 24-hour consular emergency centre.
Guardian Australia reported earlier on Wednesday that the government had asked Qantas and Virgin for urgent help to repatriate Australians from Israel.
Wong directed Dfat on Monday to commence contingency planning for “assisted-departure flights”, meaning government-backed flights.
Australians who want to leave Israel via Australia’s assisted-departure flights should register by calling the Australian Government’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).
Australians in Israel and Gaza who cannot reach Ben Gurion Airport, should contact the Consular Emergency Centre for assistance, the government said.
Israel’s military confirmed the death toll from Saturday’s Hamas attacks had passed 1,000, while the Gaza health authority has put the death toll in the enclave at 900.
An Israeli military buildup continued along Gaza’s border amid expectations the country would launch a ground invasion within days, while Hamas has threatened to execute hostages if Israel strikes civilian targets without warning.
Wong on Tuesday urged people not to wait for government-backed repatriation flights if they found a commercial option to leave the region.
It is understood at least 122 Australians have left the region since the crisis began at the weekend. Comment is being sought from Qantas and Virgin Australia.
The government confirmed on Wednesday that an Australian woman living in Israel, Galit Carbone, had been killed in the Hamas attack. Wong said: “There is no excuse for the deliberate killing of innocent civilians.”
The Coalition opposition has criticised the government for aspects of its response to the developing crisis. The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, and other frontbenchers have demanded that the government convene an urgent meeting of cabinet’s national security committee.
The Coalition’s home affairs spokesperson, James Paterson, said on Wednesday that the committee had the power to make decisions about repatriating Australians from Israel. It could also approve “additional resources for community protection and support” in Australia.
“We know from the past in 2006 with the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel that there was threats against the Jewish community here in Australia,” Paterson told Sky News.
“It should have been immediately clear when these events occurred that the first thing that should have happened was convening the national security committee cabinet, and I just can’t believe the prime minister hasn’t done so.”
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, told 3AW he wouldn’t confirm the timing of such meetings, but the Coalition was “playing politics in a moment where this should be above politics”.
Marles said that from the moment the crisis began, ministers had been working with each other and security agencies and departments and “making the decisions the government needs to make”.
