Hugh Sheridan caught up in Israel attacks: ‘On their way to fight’

The Packed To The Rafters star, 38, was enjoying a barbecue with friends just two days ago in celebration of the Jewish public holiday Simchat Torah, when Hamas launched thousands of rockets from Gaza, killing hundreds and taking a “significant” number of captives.

Sheridan opened up about his terrifying ordeal in the Middle Eastern country in an Instagram post at the weekend, where he said he was “in the stairwell so [I’m] safe for now”.

“A few hours ago everyone was living life completely normal in Israel,” Sheridan wrote.

“It was a big Jewish holiday yesterday, one week after new year. I met a family who had 150 fly in for their wedding tomorrow. We were at a bbq yesterday with young people who at this very minute are on their way to Gaza to fight.

“A few hours later, this country is at war. Their lives have completely changed in an instant. It’s unbelievable how quickly and brutal the attack has been. With no warning. My heart breaks. I’m in the stairwell so safe for now. X love you all.”

Sheridan later revealed he was struggling to find a cab to get to the airport.

“Desperately looking for a cab to the airport to try and get out. The missiles were way too close,” he wrote alongside a video of the “eerily quiet” street.

Sheridan did manage to flee the country, alongside his friend David Draper who shared on Instagram that their group had boarded a flight to Athens, Greece.

At least 600 Israelis have been killed and more than 2000 are injured, according to the country’s media. Among the dead are 44 soldiers.

The Israeli military says a “significant” but unspecified number of civilians and hostages are being held in Gaza.

On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his nation was “at war” with Hamas as it fought militants in southern Israel and launched air strikes across Gaza.

Elsewhere, Israel’s Major General Ghasan Alyan said: “Hamas opened the gates of hell on the Gaza Strip, Hamas made the decision and Hamas will bear the responsibility and pay the price.”

Hamas is designated a terrorist organisation by Australia and many other countries, including the United States and United Kingdom.

On Sunday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there had been no Australians, including military, caught up in the attacks in Israel, though it was still too early to definitively rule it out.

“This is an abhorrent attack on Israel. This is indiscriminate. Civilians being targeted, killed and murdered, and as well, many of them being taken as hostages,” he said on ABC’s Insiders.

“Of course, people are worried about escalation, but Israel has a right to defend itself and it will be doing so.

“This has been a very dark 24 hours.”