Israeli Foreign Ministry: A group of Israelis who were stranded in northern Ethiopia were evacuated

Tel Aviv - Ofoq News - The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today, Wednesday, the evacuation of a group of Israelis who were stranded in the city of Lalibela, northern Ethiopia, by helicopter, following the security escalation in the region.

The ministry said that the evacuation operation was carried out in coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Israeli embassy in Addis Ababa, and the Ethiopian authorities, after three days of coordination between Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, officials of the ministry and the embassy on the one hand, and the Ethiopian authorities and other parties on the other hand.

She added that the evacuation process took place yesterday and today, as the group was transported by helicopters to a safe area, and from there it is expected to continue on its way to the capital, Addis Ababa.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Israeli embassy in Ethiopia will continue to accompany the Israelis until they reach their destination, and also thanked the Ethiopian authorities for their cooperation, which contributed to the implementation of the evacuation process.

Reports reported earlier this week that about 20 Israelis and about 30 foreign citizens were stranded in the city of Lalibela, without the possibility of leaving, in light of renewed fighting between government forces and armed militias.

Security developments led to the suspension of flights to the region, while movement by land was considered dangerous, which led to the disruption of access to the capital, Addis Ababa.

The stranded Israelis reported disruptions in electricity supplies and a shortage of cash. They also expressed concerns about the lack of necessary medical care for elderly travelers if exit routes from the area were to be closed for a prolonged period.

Reports indicated that the current escalation came in the wake of the collapse of the peace agreement signed in 2022, and the formation of an alliance of armed organizations active against the central government in Ethiopia.

The city of Lalibela is located in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia, which has recently witnessed a security escalation against the backdrop of confrontations between government forces and armed groups.