An Australian man has been killed in Gaza after being called up for service in the Israeli army, according to reports.

There were multiple reports on Tuesday that Reserves Captain Lior Sivan was killed in Gaza while fighting with an Israeli armoured brigade as a tank commander on December 19.

The death of the 32-year-old was covered by Israeli outlets shortly after but was not picked up by Australian media until this week.

The dual citizen was called to serve in the Israeli Defence Force shortly after October 7 when Hamas, considered a terrorist group by the Australian government, killed more than 1200 Israelis and took 240 hostages according to Tel Aviv officials.

Since then, the Israeli government has unleashed a bombing campaign and ground invasion of the besieged Gaza Strip that has killed nearly 22,000 Palestinians, local health authorities say.

Much of the occupied territory has been reduced to rubble, the vast majority of its 2.3 million citizens have been displaced and thousands are on the brink of starvation because of Israel’s blockade.

Sivan was killed after his tank invaded the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

His father Dan Sivan told the ABC that the 32-year-old had risen out of the hatch to try shooting a Hamas fighter who had allegedly placed an explosive device on an adjacent tank.

“But it was an ambush and someone hiding behind a building launched something at him,” he said in an interview with the ABC.

Sivan was awaiting the arrival of a daughter to his wife Liav, who is due to give birth next week, the ABC said.

The couple also have a two-year-old son.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was aware of the reports and “urgently seeking further confirmation”.

“We send our condolences to his family during this difficult time and stand ready to provide consular assistance,” a spokesperson said.

Health Minister Mark Butler echoed these sentiments and noted that Sivan’s actions were not against the law.

“It is legal for Australians to fight as part of the formal armed forces of a foreign nation, which we understand is what this young man has been doing,” he said on Tuesday.

This comes after two Australians – including an alleged Hezbollah fighter – were killed by an Israeli airstrike on Lebanon in late December.

Butler said the government was still seeking to establish whether he was associated with the listed terrorist organisation, but reminded Australians that these activities could have serious consequences like the cancellation of passports.

“It is a criminal offence for Australians to engage in hostile activities overseas other than as part of the formal armed forces of a foreign nation,” he said.

The government has urged Australians not to travel to Lebanon and warns the roughly 15,000 remaining in region to leave as soon as they can.

-with AAP