Israel Weighs Evacuation of Citizens Amid Ethiopian Escalation

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively assessing options to evacuate Israeli citizens from northern Ethiopia following a significant escalation in fighting. Tigrayan forces launched a broad offensive, raising fears of a renewed civil war and posing the most serious threat to the 2022 ceasefire. The ministry and the Israeli embassy in Addis Ababa are closely monitoring developments and coordinating efforts to extract Israelis caught in the conflict zones.

"The Israelis Abroad Department, the Situation Division, and the Israeli Embassy in Addis Ababa are leading intensive efforts, closely monitoring the situation of Israelis in areas experiencing security escalation in northern Ethiopia and are in contact with relevant groups and entities," a Foreign Ministry statement said. "We are continuously examining exit options from the area in cooperation with local entities and according to developments and security conditions on the ground. The Foreign Ministry is and will continue to act and assist Israelis in the area as much as possible, prioritizing their safety and security."

The current escalation stems from a new military alliance formed by seven armed groups in Ethiopia, led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front, aiming to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. Tigrayan rebel deputy leader, Alemnew Assefa, declared a "total war" and confirmed cooperation with other local militias. The Ethiopian army, however, reported halting the attacks and claimed to have killed, wounded, or captured over 500 enemy fighters.

This outbreak is the gravest challenge to the 2022 ceasefire, which ended a brutal war that claimed approximately 600,000 lives. The fighting has caused widespread panic among locals, fearing a return to prolonged sieges, with reports of looting of stores, depleted food shelves, and severe shortages of essential medicines in towns near the border. The African Union and the European Union have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a resumption of talks to prevent the region from descending into a wider conflict.