More than a dozen Israelis reportedly rescued amid growing clashes in Ethiopia
More than one dozen Israeli nationals were rescued from the danger zone in Ethiopia on Monday, amid escalating clashes between the Ethiopian military and the opposing FANO militia.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem reported that up to 50 Israeli citizens are currently in the city of Gondar in northern Ethiopia. In addition, some 60 individuals in the area of the clashes may be eligible for Israeli citizenship.
Israeli Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer recently disclosed that the Jewish state is closely monitoring the state of emergency in Ethiopia due to intense clashes in the Amhara region. Local Jewish community members in Gondar are reportedly waiting for permission to immigrate to Israel.
Happening now in Gondar #AmharaResistance pic.twitter.com/D4FRV4eVuo
— 🌞Soስna (እሙ)🇺🇸 (@Emuye06) August 7, 2023
In July, Francis Adbabayi, a 79-year-old Israeli of Ethiopian origin, was reportedly kidnapped by criminals who demanded $9,000 for his release.
"Help me, I am in the middle of the jungle, heavy rain is pouring. I was supposed to return on Sunday but it seems I will be staying here. I wouldn’t wish this on my enemies,” could be heard in the man's desperate voice message to his family, according to the Israeli broadcaster Kan.
Ethiopian Special Forces later rescued Adbabayi, the Israeli citizen, in an operation close to the Sudanese border.
Approximately 160,000 Israelis are of Ethiopian origin, constituting around 2% of Israel's total population. About 50% were born in the Jewish state, while the remaining half, about 95,000, were brought to Israel during several humanitarian rescue operations since the 1980s and the 1990s, including Operation Moses, Operation Joshua, Operation Dove's Wings and Operation Solomon.
In 2022, roughly 3,500 Ethiopian immigrants arrived in Israel as part of Operation Zur Israel (Rock of Israel).
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
