Aussies in Israel: ‘We don’t have a feeling of being stuck’

Rina Mizrahi was in her bed when an Iranian missile hit her aged care facility in Tel Aviv.

“She’s almost 98, they don’t go to the bunkers because they just don’t have time,” Rina’s Australian granddaughter Tali Mizrahi told The AJN.

Miraculously, Rina was unharmed despite her window shattering. The lobby of the nursing home was destroyed, as well as the manager’s office, but the residents didn’t suffer major physical injuries.

“She was in her apartment when it happened, in bed and then thankfully the IDF came out to help her and they were really sweet and compassionate,” said Tali.

“She’s doing well, she’s in good spirits. She’s completely unharmed, which is really good. But she moved to Israel when she was about two years old, so she’s been there for 96 years and you can only imagine how many wars she’s lived through.”

Rony and George Bognar arrived in Israel for WIZO a few days before Israel’s war with Iran began. Their hotel doubles as a public shelter when sirens sound, but they said everything is calm and well organised.

“Nobody is outwardly anxious,” Rony told The AJN minutes after leaving the shelter. “We follow the instructions and we feel safe and well looked after.”

Being a public shelter, Rony said people come straight from the beach with their children, babies, many pet dogs and even cats in their cages. “So it’s a bit of a circus atmosphere, but everybody is supportive of one another,” she said.

“People are calm and courteous, everyone is offered water and if you haven’t got a seat, somebody will give you one if you need it or want it. If there’s a crying baby, there are 10 grandmothers ready to pounce and help distract the baby.”

George added that the dogs are as well behaved as the people, “sometimes better behaved than some”.

While many Australians have escaped Israel through Jordan with the airspace still closed, the Bognars are in no rush to leave. In fact, they’ve decided to use the opportunity to volunteer their help wherever they can, whether it’s making and wrapping sandwiches for soldiers, or setting up donated clothes and toiletries for those who have fled their homes with nothing.

“We don’t have a feeling of being stuck, we really don’t,” said Rony. “I know it sounds weird, but it’s sort of an opportunity to feel what the Israelis are feeling.”

Meanwhile, more than 100 Australians and their family members landed in Dubai after the Australian government assisted in their departure out of Tel Aviv.

It’s understood the Australian Defence Force assisted a departure flight from Israel with 119 Australians and their family members on board as part of ongoing efforts by the government to help Australians seeking to leave the region.

All 119 Australians will now have to make their own way home from Dubai, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said.

Prior to the departure of the flight, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said about 3000 more were in Iran and about 1000 others were in Israel waiting to come home.