Southern Israel — The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem informed U.S. residents in Israel Thursday morning that the State Division was “planning for contingencies to assist with private U.S. citizens’ departure from Israel.”
“If the U.S. government provides departure assistance from Israel, options would most likely include travel to a nearby, safe country,” and never journey all the best way again to the U.S., the embassy mentioned. It requested Individuals in Israel desirous about leaving the nation to fill out a web based kind.
“You will be responsible for your onward travel after arriving in the nearby, safe country. Consular officers will be available to assist you on arrival with consular services, including a loan to repatriate to the United States if you wish to do so and qualify,” the embassy mentioned. It additionally mentioned U.S. residents wouldn’t be required to pay for the service, however they “will be expected to sign a promissory note to repay the U.S. government. We will tell you the estimated amount you will be expected to repay before you travel.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee informed Individuals to register for the STEP program in a social media publish early Thursday, echoing an analogous message he posted Wednesday. His Wednesday publish precipitated some confusion, because the State Division mentioned afterward that it had “no announcement about assisting private U.S. citizens to depart at this time.”
“We’re working to get military, commercial, charter flights & cruise ships for evac,” Huckabee mentioned Thursday. “If you’re offered a seat, take it. Family in Israel? Tell them to stay close to shelter & don’t ignore sirens!”
Residents of Poland and Austria assemble at a lodge in Tel Aviv, Israel, for evacuation amid heavy strikes on Israel by Iran, June 17, 2025.
Baz Ratner/AP
Israel’s Ben Gurion Worldwide Airport remained closed Thursday, together with all of Israel’s airspace and seaports. Quite a few different nations, together with China and several other European nations, began evacuating residents from Israel earlier this week.
“I may do it, I may not do it, nobody knows what I’m going to do,” Mr. Trump informed reporters earlier within the day when requested whether or not the U.S. would become involved within the strikes on Iran’s nuclear and navy amenities.
Mr. Trump has referred to as on Iran to give up fully. However Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei mentioned his nation wouldn’t give up and warned the U.S. towards navy intervention.
One other couple mentioned that they had been on a tour of Israel when it launched its assault on Iran and had been left stranded. Their tour firm helped them set up journey to Israel’s border with Jordan.
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