<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>330089</docID> <postdate>2024-10-01 10:48:39</postdate> <headline>Grave warning for Australians as Israel invades Lebanon</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-330090" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20240929148627781122-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="601" /></p> <caption>There are fears for Australians in Lebanon as the war in Middle East escalates. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Dominic Giannini</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Australia is working to get its citizens out of Lebanon as Israel launches a ground invasion.</strong></p> <p>Those in Lebanon are being assisted by the Department of Foreign Affairs to secure commercial airline tickets as the risk of the international airport shutting heightens.</p> <p>It follows months of repeated warnings Australians in Lebanon needed to leave as the security situation deteriorated and any repatriation effort in a crisis would be severely strained and unable to evacuate everyone.</p> <p>Foreign Minister Penny Wong has reiterated calls for Australians to take the first opportunity to leave.</p> <p>Canada has secured 800 seats on commercial flights across three days to evacuate its citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families.</p> <p>Israeli troops have begun "targeted ground raids" in southern Lebanon, with the military saying it's targeting Hezbollah targets.</p> <p>Hundreds of people have been killed in Lebanon following a multi-day missile attack from Israel, which it said targeted the designated terrorist group and its weapon stocks, and the assassination of the Hezbollah leader.</p> <p>The attack has levelled residential apartments and dozens of children are among those killed.</p> <p>Israel and the Lebanon-based, Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading rocket attacks across the border for months.</p> <p>Save the Children estimates 60,000 kids have crossed into Syria from Lebanon, with many suffering dehydration and exhaustion, since the escalation on September 24.</p> <p>Syria is also dealing with a humanitarian crisis after more than a decade of conflict, with some 16 million people requiring humanitarian assistance, the organisation says.</p> <p>Treasurer Jim Chalmers urged restraint, saying Australia was "gravely concerned for the human cost of an escalation of this conflict".</p> <p>"Further hostilities put the lives of tens of thousands of civilians at risk," he told reporters in Canberra.</p> <p>The escalation in the Middle East has translated to growing frustration within Arab and Lebanese communities in Australia about the federal government's rhetoric over Israel's incursion and sustained attacks.</p> <p>Dr Chalmers denied the federal government was tip-toeing around the issue by using terms like "concern" about escalation, which Arab and Palestinian communities want strengthened.</p> <p>"I don't agree with that, but I understand and respect that our communities are hurting and this is a difficult time for people," he said.</p> <p>The focus has shifted to protesters seen carrying the Hezbollah flag, drawing scorn from the Jewish community and both sides of politics, with calls for visa holders to be deported.</p> <p>People inciting discord would fail a visa character test although the immigration status of protesters was unknown, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.</p> <p>"I don't want the anger and hatred from around the world being imported into Australia," he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.</p> <p>It's a Commonwealth offence to display the symbol of a listed terrorist organisation, but Australian Federal Police deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett said solely displaying Hezbollah's symbols wasn't enough for a prosecution.</p> <p>Although a reasonable person determining the display of the symbol is likely to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate "would be sufficient" because of the ideology it's seen to represent, the counter-terror law reads.</p> <p>The AFP is expecting at least six referrals from Victoria Police relating to the display of terrorist iconography by Tuesday.</p> <p>"We will arrest and prosecute where we identify alleged offenders," Ms Barrett told ABC Radio.</p> <p>https://citynews.com.au/2024/visa-check-for-hezbollah-flag-wavers/</p> </body>