Australian government moves to help citizens leave Israel and Palestine as conflict burns

By Jack Dona · · 3 min read
Fact Checked
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An Israeli security wall with watch tower.

The Australian government has opened registration for citizens who are yet to leave Israel and Palestine in the wake of the current conflict. 

According to the latest update from Smartraveller, Australian citizens wanting to leave the conflict zones will be able to do so “as soon as possible”. 

The government is contacting those who have registered their travel plans through Smartraveller to arrange assisted flights and other departure options and is encouraging those who want to leave to take the first available option. 

Those who are yet to register with the government’s Smartraveller service, or don’t have plans to depart, must register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's crisis registration portal.

At the moment, the travel advice from the government for the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel is set to ‘Reconsider your need to travel’, while the advice for Gaza and the surrounding border is ‘Do not travel’.

What happens if you’re travelling overseas and war breaks out?

With wars between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Palestine front of mind for many, the question of what to do if you’re caught in a country when war breaks out is not only an unsettling thought but a frightening reality for some. 

If you’re travelling, you probably have travel insurance. Surely that’ll cover you, right? Well, not in the way you might think.

Does travel insurance cover you if there’s a war? 

Most travel insurance policies won’t provide any cover for claims resulting from acts of war (or terrorism, for that matter). But that doesn’t mean you’re completely on your own. 

For some background, the majority of travel insurance providers stipulate in their product disclosure statements (PDS) that they don’t cover war or terrorism-related incidents, and won’t provide cover if you’re travelling in a country on Smartraveller’s ‘Do not travel’ list.

Essentially, knowing that a country you’re travelling to is at high risk for war or terror, is a gamble the policy provider isn’t willing to take. And realistically, neither should you. 

But what do you do if war breaks out without warning? 

Travel insurance providers usually have a 24/7 emergency contact number and can help you with contacting the Australian government or locating the nearest embassy for consular assistance.  

But the Australian government is really who you want to contact in these situations. 

The contact number for the Government’s 24-hour consular emergency assistance line is +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas or 1300 555 135 from within Australia. 

According to the government’s Consular Services Charter, they may decide, following a crisis, that extra support for affected Australians is necessary. 

The Australian government can:

  • Liaise with local authorities and government agencies 
  • Work with travel operators, insurance providers, and other governments to help you
  • Deploy expert teams to support you
  • Help you to leave the affected areas 
  • Help you get in contact with friends and family 
  • Advise you of options to leave a dangerous area 
  • Arrange your evacuation (in exceptional circumstances). 

However, it’s important to note that the Australian government doesn’t have much power to step in and solve problems in other countries first-hand. Their power lies only in diplomacy and hinges on the cooperation of overseas authorities. 

That’s why it’s a good idea to prepare well before you travel (even if you’re headed to a destination where war or crisis is unlikely) and stay informed while you’re overseas. 

What precautions can you take when travelling? 

Whether you’re off somewhere generally considered safe or not, it’s always good to have an awareness of what to do if something does go wrong. 

Subscribe to Smartraveller updates 

You can subscribe to receive alerts from Smartraveller for the destinations you’re visiting. This can help keep you informed of emerging situations, like wars, terror threats, natural disasters, civil unrest, and a whole lot more. 

It’s a useful tool to keep on hand if you’re travelling in potentially unstable areas, or if you need up-to-date information on a destination. 

Keep the consular emergency assistance number handy 

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to contact the Australian government for consular assistance (which is useful in a number of situations, not just during a conflict), then you’ll thank yourself that you saved the number in your phone. 

The consular emergency assistance number is: 

  • Overseas: +61 2 6261 3305
  • In Australia: 1300 555 135. 

Purchase a travel insurance policy 

While travel insurance won’t cover you if a war breaks out, or if you’re travelling in an area with ‘Do not travel’ advice levels, it can help you out in a range of other situations. 

For example, if you’re hospitalised due to an injury that wasn’t your fault, some travel insurance policies can cover your medical expenses and any extra costs that might arise from your time spent in the infirmary. 

Plus, there are all the usual inclusions of a comprehensive travel insurance policy, like flight cancellation and stolen luggage cover, which can potentially save you thousands of dollars to replace.

Compare travel insurance with Mozo to see an overview of what each policy covers, and always make sure you read the policy’s PDS to ensure that you’re getting the right coverage for you and your needs. 

Travel insurance comparisons on Mozo - last updated 6 May 2024

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^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Travel Insurance Awards

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