Countries Scramble To Evacuate Citizens From Israel

• As pleas for help heighten across Gaza

As countries around the world scramble to evacuate their citizens from Israel after the deadly attack launched by Palestinian militants at the weekend, some foreigners currently facing cancelled flights have pleaded for help from their respective governments.

This is against the backdrop of reports confirming that more than 1,200 people have been killed in Israel while others are missing, with some feared abducted by Hamas militants and taken into Gaza.

Similarly, another 900 people have been killed in Gaza after Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes with the reports further saying that people from the United States (US), Australia, Argentina, Cambodia, Canada, Nepal, Thailand, Russia, the United Kingdom (UK), Ukraine France among others are confirmed to be among those killed in the violence.

With the raging conflict, many airlines, including Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, have cancelled or delayed flights from Israel, with Canada specifically saying on Tuesday that it would send military aircraft to Tel Aviv “in the coming days” to evacuate citizens and permanent residents as well as their spouses and children.

“We are planning to begin the assisted departure of Canadians from Tel Aviv … We are also working on additional options for those who cannot reach the airport in Tel Aviv,” foreign minister Melanie Joly said on X, formerly Twitter.

According to the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, about 1,000 Canadians in Israel want to leave in the wake of Hamas’ assault on Saturday, just as the Australian government confirmed on Wednesday it had asked Qantas and Virgin for urgent help to repatriate Australians from Israel as the death toll in the region mounts.

However, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged people not to wait for government-backed repatriation flights if they could find a commercial option to leave the region. It is believed about 12,000 Australians are in Israel, although many of these are dual nationals who may not necessarily wish to leave.

On its part, Germany has chartered Lufthansa to evacuate its citizens who want to leave on Thursday and Friday, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday. German media reported there were thought to be about 4,500 Germans in Israel, including many school and youth groups.

Also, the government of Denmark on Wednesday offered to evacuate its citizens from Israel and the Palestinian territories, while Fiji’s Defence Minister, Pio Tikoduadua said a Fiji Airways flight had left Tel Aviv with almost 200 Fijian religious pilgrims, plus citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US on board and would arrive in Fiji on Thursday.

For Hungary, 215 people were evacuated on Sunday in two aircraft, while Mexico said on Monday it was evacuating about 300 of its nationals who had asked to leave on humanitarian flights operated by its army.

On Wednesday, a flight carrying 192 South Koreans from Tel Aviv arrived at Incheon Airport. About 570 South Koreans are estimated to be staying long-term in Israel while about 230 are staying short-term, according to South Korea’s foreign ministry.

Israel’s main airport, Ben Gurion 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. Jang further said; “As flights were cancelled or delayed, there was fear and people were rushing to leave the country.”

Meanwhile, on Tuesday night, Joe Biden said the attack by Hamas “brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS” and pledged unflinching support for Israel, even as he called the assault an “act of sheer evil”.

The US President said at least 14 Americans had been killed in the onslaught, with an unknown number of US citizens among the many currently being held hostage.

Also, the State Department announced that the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken would travel in the coming days to Israel to deliver a message of solidarity and support.

Israel’s military on Tuesday confirmed responding to mortar fire from the Golan Heights with artillery fire. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the six-day war of 1967. Its 1981 annexation of the strategic area is not recognised by the United Nations.

This was the first exchange of fire between Israel and Syria since Hamas carried out its unprecedented assault on Saturday. – The Guardian report