Melbourne lawyer Leon Zwier is among over 1,000 Australians stranded in Israel as conflict with Iran escalates. Zwier, who arrived for a conference before the fighting, was due to leave on Friday but grounded planes have left his departure uncertain.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) reports 1,027 Australians registered for assistance in Israel and 872 in Iran. Options for departure are limited, with some advised to take a risky 2.5-hour land journey to Jordan, where airspace closures intermittently halt flights.
Zwier describes a stark contrast between day and night in Jerusalem. By day, he walks quiet streets, buying supplies from open shops. At night, he says, “that’s when the risk emerges,” as Iranian missiles target civilian areas. He follows safety protocols and heads to bunkers when sirens sound, noting an unusual bond with strangers sheltering together.
Since the surprise attack on Tehran, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 224 people in Iran, while 24 have died in Israel. The IDF claims Iran has used 370 missiles, with 200 launchers destroyed.
Another Australian, Emily Gian, living near Tel Aviv with her family, says the situation feels like “nothing like anything we’ve experienced.” Her children attend school via Zoom, and shopping trips are cut short due to the constant threat of sirens.
