It has been confirmed that about 250 Korean citizens who were staying for a short period of time in Israel, which was attacked by the Palestinian armed political group Hamas, have left the country safely as of the 11th.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 192 Korean citizens who were staying in Israel for a short period of time returned to Korea via Incheon International Airport on a Korean Air plane at around 6:09 a.m. that day. About 60 other short-term residents also left Israel by land and moved to nearby Jordan.
As a result, the number of short-term residents among Korean citizens currently staying in Israel has decreased from about 480 to about 230. Among these 230 people, about 30 are planning to leave the country on a Turkish Airlines flight on the 12th.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the remaining short-term residents “are being advised to leave the country by air or land.”
Previously, on the 7th of this month (local time), Hamas launched an attack by firing thousands of rockets targeting the central area and areas near the capital Jerusalem, focusing on the southern part of Israel adjacent to the Palestinian Gaza Strip. In response, the Israeli military also launched a counterattack, resulting in casualties on both sides. It continues to increase.
Accordingly, from the afternoon of the 8th, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs upgraded the existing ‘Level 2’ (restrict travel) warning issued throughout Israel, excluding the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, to ‘Special Travel Advisory’ (Level 2.5) and restricted Korean citizens staying in the area. It is recommended to “depart for a third country if possible.”
The existing travel warning remains in place for the Gaza Strip (Level 4, travel ban) and the West Bank and within 5km of the Gaza Strip (Level 3, advisory to leave the country).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs understands that there have been no casualties among Korean citizens staying in Israel due to attacks by Hamas.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.