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Australian Or Kedem has packed his suitcase for what he hopes will be his fourth and final attempt to leave the Middle East now that missiles have finally stopped hurtling through the sky.
A week into his trip to Israel for the birth of his nephew, the conflict broke out when the Israeli military launched strikes on Iran on 13 June, arguing Iran was on the cusp of developing nuclear weapons.
Retaliatory blasts on apartment buildings near his family’s home in Ramat Gan were terrifying and a world away from his day-to-day life with his wife and two children back in Victoria.
After three unsuccessful evacuation attempts, he hopes to finally make a flight on Thursday after Israel’s airspace reopened and commercial flights started opening up again.
“It’s not gonna be easy, I have a four-day trip until I’m gonna get home, but I will do everything to see my kids again,” Kedem told AAP.
“I’m so excited to be home, just to sit on the airplane.”
This is a common theme amongst the Australians stuck in Israel during the conflict, who are buoyed by flights becoming available and pressure easing at land border crossings as the ceasefire sets in.
About 1000 Australians have registered with the government for help to leave Israel, and an additional 3000 have asked for assistance to leave Iran.
Overnight, a group of Australians landed in Sydney after finally getting out of Tel Aviv on a RAAF jet.
Sky News aired images of passengers running into the arms of their families in the airport arrivals area.
Another group is expected to arrive later on Thursday.
A total of 119 Australians were taken out of Israel by the Australian government on Tuesday and travelled to Dubai and then on to Sydney.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is still trying to help Australians trapped in Iran, but has advised them to head to the border with Azerbaijan if they can.
The clash between Israel and Iran took a turn on the weekend when the US bombed three underground nuclear facilities in Iran.
Australian lawyer Leon Zwier says he will never again take for granted the ability to go to sleep without being woken by the sound of sirens or missiles.
“Last night, for the first time, we had a night without missiles being fired across our city or into the civilian population,” Zwier said from a departure gate Ben Gurion airport south of Tel Aviv.
“It was restful, we all relaxed and that was a common theme with everyone we spoke to.”
Dashes to bomb shelters became a nightly reality for him and thousands of others in Israel since the IDF began its campaign against Iran.
What was meant to be a trip for a conference quickly became an unexpected insight into life in a war zone, before he booked the first flight home he could find through Thailand.
Zwier cannot wait to hug his children and grandchildren, reassuring them he is fine and safe.
“Moments like this, you cherish life more than ever, and so it makes you appreciate things more than ever.”
