Grandmother Galit Carbone is the first Australian confirmed dead after Hamas attacked Israel, killing hundreds of civilians and taking others hostage.
The 66-year-old was reportedly executed at the Be’eri kibbutz, kilometres from the Gaza Strip.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the death in a statement on Wednesday, saying the government was offering consular assistance to her family in Israel and Australia.
“On behalf of the government, I wish to convey my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Ms Carbone,” Senator Wong said.
“Australia unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas, there is no excuse for the deliberate killing of innocent civilians.
“Our thoughts are with all those killed and injured in these attacks and all others affected. Australia continues to urge the protection of civilian lives at all times.”
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil earlier told Seven’s Sunrise program the news was “heartbreaking”
“I say to the Jewish community, we’re standing with you, wrapping our arms around and you and I express my deepest condolences for what has happened.”
Senator Wong is leading efforts by the government to help the estimated 10,000 Australian residents in Israel on top of tourists.
Asked if rescue flights were being considered, Ms O’Neil said “we are looking at all options at the moment and we’ll do whatever is necessary”.
But Australians in Israel have expressed frustration at the government for not offering a safe pathway home.
Keanu Vincente told ABC TV he felt stranded.
“Especially when I’m seeing constant other repatriation flights coming from other countries,” he said.
“So it would feel a lot safer … to have the Australian government doing those flights for all of the Australians here.”
Asher Lilley said the situation was terrifying. She and her sister have a commercial flight booked but are worried about cancellations.
“Every single day more and more flights are getting cancelled and all we can do is just hope that we are actually going to be able to get out,” she told Nine’s Today program from Tel Aviv.
She said she was told by the Australian embassy “we hope it works out” when she made contact and told them she had a commercial flight booked.
“(It was) as if we just missed a flight whereas we’re stuck in a literal war zone,” she said.
“The communication has been shocking … what’s the point of having an embassy if they’re not doing their job.
“We need to do better – it’s so scary being stuck in a war zone, we just want to get out, we just want to get home.”
Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said the government wasn’t doing enough to make people feel safe.
“(Ms O’Neil) is not stepping up and reassuring the Jewish community of their safety, of implications with domestic terrorism which, of course, always relate to an international act of war,” she told Sky News.
“That should be done in daily press conferences, it should be ongoing, it shouldn’t be something that we just happen to catch in an answer to an interview.”
More than 1000 people are dead and scores of Israelis and some foreigners were captured and taken to Gaza as hostages.
News Corp has reported mother of two Adi Kaplon, the daughter-in-law of an Australian man, is being held by Hamas. The government has not confirmed if any citizens are being held hostage.
The Israeli government has ordered a complete siege which will cut off food, fuel, water and electricity to Gaza.
The United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories said a full-scale blockage would only make the situation worse with residents trapped under both Israel’s illegal occupation and “Hamas’ tyrannical rule”.
“Collectively punishing an entire population, is it not going to further inflame or aggravate the sense of frustration?” Francesca Albanese told ABC radio.
