A Palestinian Australian man has slammed the federal government's efforts to repatriate his wife, who is trapped in Gaza.
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Khalil Elmobayed, a 63-year-old Melbourne engineer, says his wife Hanaa arrived three days before the hostilities broke out between Hamas and Israel to visit her ailing mother.
She is sheltering with her sister and other family members near the Rafah border crossing, the only exit to the blockaded enclave.
"They are living martyrs and they can get killed by Israeli strikes anytime," he told AAP.
"We're getting wrong messages from DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and she is being exposed to danger because of those messages," he said.
"They're telling her just go to the crossing and it will be open soon ... she went there and it was closed. It is destroyed."
The crossing has been hit at least four times by Israeli forces, according to Egyptian authorities.
"The messages (from the department) are effectively telling her go at your own risk and if you die that's your problem."
He said it was very distressing for his children and grandchildren who were fretting about her safety.
AAP has seen DFAT communication to Australian citizens in Gaza instructing them to move at short notice should the crossing be opened.
DFAT says it is all doing it can to help repatriate 46 Australian citizens stuck in Gaza.
"The Australian government's ability to provide assistance in Gaza remains extremely limited," a department spokesperson told AAP.
"We understand the situation is extremely distressing for Australians in Gaza, their friends and families."
The department says it is advocating with "the Israeli, Egyptian and other governments in support of international efforts to establish safe passage out of Gaza for Australians".
It remains in touch with the 46 Australians via phone calls, text messages and emails.
The latest conflict broke after Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7 and snatched dozens of hostages, killing more than 1000 people.
Israel has vowed to destroy the militant group in a retaliation that has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides, with regular air strikes.
Gaza's health ministry says 3785 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 12,500 have been wounded in the past two weeks.
Mr Elmobayed said he was disappointed with the Australian government's overall response to the conflict with no calls for a ceasefire made by the Albanese government.
"I want the Australian government to stand on the side of truth. I'm not just talking about my trapped wife in Gaza along with millions of others," he said.
"Unfortunately, the Australian government's position has been very painful closing its ears to the Palestinian people's cries for many decades."
Australian Associated Press
