MFA: About 450 Ukrainians cannot leave Israel, Gaza Strip

10.10.2023 16:13

Ukrinform

150 Ukrainian citizens have declared their desire to leave the Gaza Strip, where hostilities are ongoing, and about 300 more Ukrainians cannot leave the territory of Israel due to canceled flights.

"For three days, the operational headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was created to help Ukrainians in Israel, processed more than 700 appeals from our citizens. Over the past day, Ukrainian diplomats found seven Ukrainians in the south of the country who were previously considered missing. They are safe now. Also, our embassy helped six families find temporary housing in Israel," Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko said during the United News telethon.

Nikolenko added that diplomats also take care of a Ukrainian boy who was rescued yesterday in the war zone – he is given medical treatment, psychological support and his return to relatives in Ukraine is being prepared.

As for the killed or injured Ukrainians, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted that the situation has not changed after the confirmation of the death of two Ukrainian women. Diplomats have information about a possible death of three more Ukrainians – two in Israel, one in the Gaza Strip – but this information has not yet been confirmed.

"As for the Ukrainians who contacted the operational headquarters due to the impossibility of leaving Israel because of canceled flights, here we have a figure of about 300 citizens in the territory of Israel and 150 Ukrainians in the Gaza Strip, who declared their desire to leave the enclave," Nikolenko said.

He advises citizens to check the possibilities of leaving the country with commercial airlines because, despite the cancellation of flights, some companies continue to fly from Israel. At the same time, the operational headquarters and other involved agencies are working out alternative ways to help our citizens leave the country, but the situation in the Gaza Strip is more complicated because active hostilities are ongoing there.

The diplomat underscored that the Israeli side provides the utmost possible assistance to the embassy in the conditions of its operation, and the embassy and the operational headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintain contact with the police, main hospitals and other departments to obtain information about citizens and help them.