China has begun evacuating hundreds of its citizens from Israel, routing them through Egypt, as regional tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, particularly amid the ongoing Israel–Iran conflict.
According to a statement published by the Chinese Embassy in Israel on Thursday, the operation commenced on Friday and involves transporting Chinese nationals by bus to Egypt through the Taba Border Crossing, situated in the southern part of Israel near the Red Sea. The embassy warned that the “current situation remains severe”, and further escalation could not be ruled out.
The embassy also reiterated its advice to Chinese citizens still in Israel to leave the country “as soon as possible,” particularly via neighbouring countries such as Jordan and Egypt. The announcement comes amid increased hostilities in the region, with mounting civilian casualties and infrastructure damage reported in recent weeks.
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The ongoing evacuation from Israel follows China’s earlier efforts to repatriate over 1,600 nationals from Iran, another hotspot in the evolving crisis. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing stated it was working closely with relevant countries to ensure the safe passage of Chinese nationals across borders.
In a separate briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian confirmed that China was coordinating closely with Egypt, Israel, and other neighbouring countries to provide safe channels for evacuation.
“The safety of Chinese citizens is a top priority for the government,” Lin stated. “We are taking active measures to facilitate the return of our nationals in conflict-affected areas.”
Beijing has also called for restraint from all parties involved in the conflict, with President Xi Jinping urging diplomatic resolution and warning against actions that might infringe on the sovereignty of nations or further destabilise the region.
As the geopolitical situation remains volatile, Chinese authorities say they will continue monitoring developments closely and expand evacuation operations if necessary.
