China to evacuate citizens from Israel via Egypt border as conflict escalates

China’s embassy in Israel said it will begin evacuating nationals via the Egyptian border from Friday, after hundreds had already left the country, while about 1,600 others had left Iran over the last few days.

In a statement on Thursday, the embassy said it was seeking to register Chinese citizens who wished to evacuate in organised groups, which would leave Israel by bus via the Taba border crossing, about 360km (224 miles) from Tel Aviv.

Evacuees must hold a valid Chinese passport or valid Chinese national identification card, travel documents from Hong Kong or Macau, or a mainland-issued travel permit for Taiwan residents.

The notice was issued after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke by phone on Wednesday with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty.

Israel and Iran have entered a seventh day of an air war, with missiles hitting not only strategic targets but also residential areas since Israel launched what it called a “pre-emptive strike” on Iran last Friday.

Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Thursday that around 1,600 Chinese nationals have been safely evacuated from Iran, along with several hundred from Israel, under arrangements between the ministry, China’s embassies and consulates, and neighbouring countries.

  

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