Defiant protesters as more Australians return from Lebanon

As another Qantas repatriation flight departs for Sydney, Australians are being told that their time to depart Lebanon is dwindling.

After departing Cyprus late on Friday, up to 220 Australians and permanent residents are expected to return home late on Saturday night. The federal government is appalled at the declining number of seats on aircraft departing Lebanon for Cyprus, whereas previous repatriation flights have been full or nearly so.

Officials have warned no further flights out of the war-troubled nation are scheduled after Sunday. Israel has intensified its bombing campaign in southern Lebanon and the capital Beirut as it attacks listed terror group Hezbollah, which has been firing rockets into Israel for months.

Its year-long war in Gaza also remains in the spotlight, with a vigil taking place at Federation Square in Melbourne on Friday night. People gathered at the Free Palestine Melbourne event to remember the more than 40,000 Palestinians who have died in the conflict.

In Perth, pro-Palestine protesters promise to defy police bans on anti-Israel material on Saturday. Friends of Palestine WA said police tried on three separate occasions last weekend to confiscate a banner that read “Israel kills kids: hold them accountable”. The banner references Gaza health authorities’ estimates that more than 41,000 Palestinians, including 11,000 children, have been killed since the conflict escalated in October 2023.