By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Israeli government has advised citizens to immediately leave Egypt and Jordan, as tensions flares within the region, arising from the war in Gaza, the national security council said on Saturday.
“Israel’s National Security Council raises its travel warnings for Egypt (including Sinai) and Jordan to level 4 (high threat): recommendation not to travel to these countries and for those staying there to leave… as soon as possible,” it said in a statement.
This comes just days after Israel recalled its diplomats from Turkey as a security precaution following an earlier request for its citizens to leave as well.
The evacuation calls came after days of protests across the Middle East over Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
The war was sparked on October 7 after Hamas militants invaded Israel from the Gaza Strip, taking more than 200 hostages and killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians.
The victims were shot, mutilated or burnt to death, according to Israeli officials.
Israel has since vowed to destroy Hamas, and a bombing campaign launched in response has levelled the entire city blocks in Gaza, so far killing 4,137 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
US and allies have urged Israel to defend itself but express concern that humanitarian challenges in Gaza may escalate if shipment of aids is not allowed.
UAE on Friday announced the shipment of 68 tonnes of food supplies to Gaza Strip.
