Israel’s Foreign Ministry is moving to evacuate diplomats from Egypt and Morocco amid threats to their safety due to the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Hebrew media reported on Wednesday.
Following calls for mass protest against Israel in Rabat and Casablanca, Israeli Ambassador to Morocco David Govrin returned to Israel with his staff, Israel’s Kan public broadcaster said.
“In Egypt, a campaign to expel Israeli Ambassador Amira Oron went viral on social media” reported Maariv. “The Israeli diplomatic team in Cairo has since been recalled to Jerusalem,” said Ynet. The Israeli Foreign Ministry did not immediately confirm the reports.
Hamas terrorists killed at least 1,400 Israelis and wounded more than 4,400 in a massive offensive launched from Gaza on Oct. 7, which included the firing of thousands of rockets at Israel and the infiltration of the Jewish state by terrorist forces.
Hamas’s murder rampage has seen Israel unleash unprecedented air power against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip as troops prepare for an expected ground operation.
On Tuesday, an explosion rocked the courtyard of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. Hamas claimed it killed 471 Palestinians and immediately blamed Israel, accusing the IDF of deliberately striking the hospital.
Despite the Israel Defense Forces, as well as U.S. President Joe Biden and the Pentagon having confirmed that the explosion was caused by an errant Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket, angry protesters gathered in front of the Israeli diplomatic missions around the world on Tuesday evening.
Dozens of protesters attempted to storm the Israeli embassy compound in the Jordanian capital of Amman, per AFP. The rioters got through a security barrier and tried to advance towards the embassy, but security forces fired tear gas to disperse them, the wire service added.
Crowds also tried to set the Israeli diplomatic mission on fire, local media said.
Meanwhile, “all humanity to take action to stop this unprecedented brutality in Gaza,” called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as thousands attempted to storm the Israeli consulate in Istanbul.
Jerusalem raised its travel warning to Turkey to the highest level, Israel’s National Security Council announced on Tuesday, urging all Israelis in Turkey to leave the country immediately.
Protesters also gathered at the Israeli mission in The Hague in the Netherlands. Local media reported hundreds of Muslims chanted slogans including, “Israel murderer,” and “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) while trampling Israeli flags.
Protests continued on Wednesday, with fresh clashes reported near Israeli diplomatic missions in Amman, Istanbul, Athens, The Hague and other cities.
Also on Wednesday, the Israeli and U.S. embassies in Argentina were evacuated in response to bomb threats made by email, Spanish press reported.
Late Wednesday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a travel warning for the Maldives, a Sunni Muslim country in the north-central Indian Ocean. The missive urged Israeli citizens to avoid the island nation and warned those there to be aware of the situation, remain vigilant, exercise extra caution and to keep up to date with the media for any changes, said Israeli Foreign Ministry
Israel has placed all diplomatic missions around the world on high alert following the events on Oct. 7. “Shelter at home unless given express permission from security officials,” said the Foreign Ministry as he directed diplomats.
The move came as two Israeli tourists and their local guide were shot dead in Egypt on Oct. 8.
Five days later, an Israeli embassy official was attacked in Beijing. The attack did not occur inside the embassy compound, and the diplomat was in stable condition after being evacuated to the hospital, according to Jerusalem.
Produced in association with Jewish News Syndicate
Edited by Othieno B and Newsdesk Manager
