13 Vietnamese repatriated from Israel

By Vu Anh, Nguyen Tien November 9, 2023 | 05:56 am PT

An Israeli soldier gestures as military vehicles manoeuvre, amid the ongoing ground invasion against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, Nov. 8, 2023. Photo by Reuters/Ronen Zvulun

Thirteen Vietnamese nationals have safely returned home from Isreal, the foreign minsitry said Thursday as it urged Vietnamese to leave the country amid conflicts.

The ministry's spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said at a press meet that the 13 Vietnamese returned on commercial flights and humanitarian flights conducted by partners with citizens in Israel.

Hang said the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has built and carried out citizen protection plans, kept contact with, increased communications and recommendations, and assisted citizens to leave Israel for safer places.

Around 250 Vietnamese who were living, working and studying in Israel wanted to leave the conflict area when necessary.

The ministry also recommended that Vietnamese people avoid coming to Israel, and requested Israel authorities to ensure maximum security for Vietnamese nationals and their families there.

Around 12,000 people have died since Israel began airstrikes in response to Hamas' attacks on October 7. No Vietnamese casualty has been reported.

Hang added that in case of emergency, Vietnamese in Israel should contact the Vietnamese Embassy via its citizen protection hotline (+972 50 818 6116, +972 52 727 4248 or 972 50 994 0889), and the foreign ministry’s Consular Department via its citizen protection switchboard (+84 981 84 84 84, +84 965 41 11 18) or email (baohocongdan@gmail.com).