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A Palestinian-born Australian resident who is stranded in Gaza with his wife and two children is pleading with the government to act quickly to help them get out, saying they have already narrowly escaped a bombing and fear for their lives.<\/p>\n
The family \u2013 which is stressed, sick and has barely enough food \u2013 is among 19 Australians stuck in Gaza, which is being heavily bombed by the Israeli military. Israel has also cut off food and fuel to the area, which is home to 2.3 million people.<\/p>\n
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The Australian man\u2019s apartment (left and right) in Gaza after the building next door (centre) was bombed.<\/span><\/p>\n The man, who did not want to be named to protect his safety in Gaza and because he works in a sensitive industry, said he had not visited the region for 12 years due to safety, but pressing family issues and relative recent calm prompted them to plan a four-week visit.<\/p>\n The first two weeks were carefree: they swam at the beach, gathered with family, \u201cenjoyed warm chats we didn\u2019t have before and walked around the city appreciating the recent touristic and modernisation boom,\u201d the man said in an email to this masthead.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, on Saturday, everything changed. We tried to flee through Rafah crossing to Egypt on Sunday but did not succeed because we hadn\u2019t registered our travel.\u201d<\/p>\n The Adelaide family tried again on Monday, and again were rebuffed.<\/p>\n They contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to register their details. They also contacted Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, and their employers contacted other ministers.<\/p>\n However, \u201cnothing tangible at the moment indicates that we will be able to leave Gaza,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The man, a highly educated specialist who has worked around the world, said the \u201csituation here is completely dire. Shops are closed and we barely have enough food.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m staying with my parents along with my sister\u2019s family, whose house was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes and she escaped to my parents\u2019 house with her family of six. We eat one small meal per day. Clean water is running out.<\/p>\n \u201cThe conflict around us has escalated to terrifying heights, with airstrikes relentlessly targeting buildings as close as 100 metres away. Our beloved children … are living in a constant state of fear, and with each passing day, the availability of food and clean water dwindles further.<\/p>\n \u201cMy daughter and wife have fallen sick due to heightened stress. Our kids are completely traumatised… never been in something like this before. No power for the last 48 hours … we may lose connection with the world once my phone runs out of battery.\u201d<\/p>\n After the family was turned back from Rafah again on Monday, the family was notified that the soccer field across the street would be bombed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe ran away for our lives back to my parents\u2019 house. Shortly after fleeing, the building next door was completely flattened,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Palestinians evacuate wounded people after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah refugee camp.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AP<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cWe miraculously survived death with just a few minutes of difference.\u201d<\/p>\n The man asked DFAT to secure an exit through the Rafah border with Egypt.<\/p>\n \u201cDFAT is already helping Australians flee Israel and should do the same those stuck on the other side of the border,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe may die at any time.<\/p>\n \u201cOur paramount concern is the safety and well-being of our family, and we are desperate to leave Gaza and return to the safety of Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n Prime Minister Anthony Albanese referred to the family on ABC television on Friday morning, saying the government was talking to Egypt about the possibility of getting them out through Gaza\u2019s southern border with that country.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s closed, of course, at the moment, formally, but we are having discussions to try to ensure that Australians can be gotten to safety,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n