The contingency plans include the use of both civilian and military aircraft. “The Australian government is monitoring developments and assessing all options,” a foreign ministry spokesman said. The last significant rescue from the region was arranged by the Howard government in 2006 when it used ships and planes to evacuate thousands of Australian citizens from Lebanon following an Israeli invasion. The prime minister condemned a rally on the steps of the Sydney Opera House on Monday night in which pro-Palestinian demonstrators, in a protest against the national icon being lit with the colours of the Israeli flag, cheered the Hamas...