Governments scramble to evacuate citizens from Israel amid pleas for help
Countries including Canada, Germany and Australia organise evacuation flights while the US and UK insist commercial options still available as Israeli forces gather near Gaza
Countries around the world have been scrambling to evacuate their citizens from Israel after the
deadly attack launched by Palestinian militants at the weekend, while some foreigners, faced with cancelled flights, have pleaded for help from their governments.
People from the US, Australia, Argentina, Cambodia, Canada, Nepal, Thailand, Russia, the UK, Ukraine and France and elsewhere are confirmed to be among those killed in the violence.
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Many airlines, including Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have cancelled or delayed flights from
Israel.
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Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main airport, was “crowded” and “hectic,” said Jang Jeong-yoon, a 62-year-old who was on board the Korean Air flight home after travelling to Israel to take part in the festival of Sukkot.
“As flights were cancelled or delayed, there was fear and people were rushing to leave the country,” she said.
Other countries, including the US and the UK, have said they have no plans to evacuate citizens, despite calls from lawmakers and those affected.
The US is not “actively considering” emergency evacuation of its citizens, a spokesperson for the national security council said on Monday. In
a statement on the same day, president Joe Biden said “For those who desire to leave, commercial flights and ground options are still available.”
Several members of congress have urged the government to evacuate US citizens. In
a letter to secretary of state Antony Blinken, representative Grace Meng said she had “harrowing reports from constituents who remain in Israel and are seeking to return to the United States as soon as possible”.
A woman from London
told the BBC she had contacted the British embassy in Israel but received no response. She said she was stuck in Tel Aviv with three other adults and 12 children.
“We are very disappointed as we live in England and no one is willing to help us get back safely,” she said. “What are we supposed to do in this time of war?”
The UK has advised against travel to parts of Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories but has no plans to evacuate citizens. The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, told LBC radio on Tuesday ministers were “working with” the aviation industry to ensure commercial flights remain available to Britons looking to leave Israel.
Meanwhile Cyprus said on Tuesday it was ready to help with the evacuation of citizens of third countries who might want to leave Israel.
The government has activated a repatriation scheme known as Estia, which offers temporary accommodation and assistance to European Union and third-country nationals fleeing areas of crisis. Eighty five citizens of Portugal and Spain had already arrived in the country on Tuesday.
Reuters contributed to this report
Countries including Canada, Germany and Australia organise evacuation flights while the US and UK insist commercial options still available as Israeli forces gather near Gaza
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