Following several recent State Department travel warnings and advisories, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem is working to arrange evacuation flights and cruise ship transfers for American citizens seeking to leave the country.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced Wednesday, amid five days of Iranian ballistic missile launches at Israeli cities in response to Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, that cruise ship departures are also planned.
“Urgent Notice! American Citizens Seeking to Leave Israel – The U.S. Embassy in Israel … is working on evacuation flights and cruise ship departures,” Huckabee wrote on X. “You must register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). You will be notified of updates.”
This is the first announcement by the US government of a federally supported evacuation program for American citizens from Israel.
On Monday, the US State Department raised its travel warning for Israel to the highest level, level four, urging Americans not to travel there.
Ever since the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack and the Israeli military offensive on Gaza, Americans and foreigners have been continuously leaving Israel.
Before the Gaza war began, about 600,000 Americans lived in Israel, but most of them are permanent residents and hold dual citizenship.
Interestingly, China, which recently condemned the Israeli airstrike on Iran, has also begun emergency evacuations and has even encouraged citizens to find land on their own.
The airspace over Israel remains closed to all commercial aviation. “The ministry and embassies are doing everything possible to protect the safety of Chinese citizens in Iran and Israel and to quickly arrange for the evacuation of Chinese citizens,” Guo said.
Thailand is also organizing evacuations through its air force, given that there are many Thai citizens working in the country – an estimated 40,000. Hamas kidnapped some Thai citizens on October 7.
Other European countries are also ordering their citizens to leave their homes quickly as the war escalates and are organizing government assistance.
