Dozens of Israeli Tourists Trapped in Ethiopia's War Zones

Approximately 40 Israeli tourists are stranded in active conflict zones in northern Ethiopia, with one group of about 20, mostly over 65, stuck in the city of Lalibela for five days. Travel out of the city is blocked, and the local airport is not accepting flights. "We are in a hotel in the city center, all exits are blocked. We cannot get out of here by car," one tourist, Yuval Prattok, told N12. Prattok reported hearing gunfire and occasional artillery explosions every few hours. The group arrived in Ethiopia mid-month for an organized tour and reached Lalibela on September 22, shortly before it became a conflict zone. Tourists describe a deteriorating situation with frequent power outages, dwindling supplies of medicine, food, fuel, and cash. They fear the need for medical assistance if the crisis prolongs. "The main fear is that a stray bullet will fly into the room. The second is the uncertainty. We just don't know what to do," Prattok stated, adding that they learned of a U.S. travel warning for the region only after arriving in Lalibela, a warning issued on September 17, five days before their arrival. "We ended up in a war zone and didn't even know about it," Prattok asserted. Attempts to arrange evacuation through private Israeli companies were met with the response that it's impossible without permission from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Another 20 Israelis are in Mekelle, another conflict hotspot, with additional solo travelers also in the region. Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is monitoring the situation with its crisis center and embassy in Addis Ababa, maintaining contact with the tourists and exploring safe extraction options with local authorities.

The current escalation is part of a conflict that began in November 2020 in the Tigray region. After a 2022 truce, fighting resumed in autumn 2026, stemming from a long-standing struggle for political influence. The conflict involves the federal government, supported by the Ethiopian National Defense Force and regional militias, against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the Tigray Defense Forces, and the Alliance of Ethiopian National Forces, a coalition of ethnic groups opposing the government. Regional militias like the Amhara's Fano also play a role, with shifting alliances. Major fighting is concentrated in northern and northwestern Ethiopia, primarily Tigray, but also affecting neighboring Amhara and the crucial transport region of Afar. Sporadic violence also occurs in Oromia. Lalibela and Mekelle are situated within these active conflict zones, explaining the blocked routes and halted air traffic, leaving safe departure options unavailable.