Crisis region: How Germans can leave Israel

In light of the mutual air strikes between Israel and Iran and the uncertain future situation, more and more Germans in the region are asking themselves whether they should—and can—leave the country. Due to the airspace closure, direct departure by plane is currently not possible.

The Federal Foreign Office has called on all Germans in Israel, Iran, and neighboring countries to register on the so-called Elefand list and keep their information up to date. Using this data, German diplomatic missions abroad can quickly contact people in an emergency. According to the Federal Foreign Office, more than 4,000 Germans are currently registered as staying in Israel. More than 1,000 registrations have been recorded for Iran. Registrations on Elefand surged in the days following June 13, a Foreign Office spokeswoman told the Süddeutsche Zeitung.

The ongoing conflict still prevents departure from Israel and Iran by air. However, the volatile security situation also makes planning overland journeys difficult. Therefore, German citizens are encouraged to consider the possibility of leaving by land at their own discretion, depending on their individual situation, available shelters, and the instructions of local security authorities.

The Federal Foreign Office is offering to fly German citizens out of Israel via neighboring Jordan. The first special flight from the Jordanian capital, Amman, is scheduled for lunch this Wednesday, the ministry announced. The flight from Jordan is subject to a fee and will allow up to 180 people to return to Germany. To enable more Germans to leave the country, the Federal Foreign Office has also planned a special flight from Amman for Thursday. "The Germans registered on the Elefand crisis preparedness list will be informed of the details," said the Foreign Office spokeswoman.

To enter Jordan, German citizens can use several border crossings. Germans require a visa to enter Jordan, which is usually applied for online. "In the current exceptional situation, the Jordanian border authorities are also issuing 'visas on arrival' directly at the border in individual cases," the Federal Foreign Office announced.

According to the Federal Foreign Office, self-organized departure via Israel's neighboring country, Egypt, is also possible. According to the information, a visa is also required for entry into Egypt, which can be applied for at an Egyptian diplomatic mission or upon arrival.

Exiting the country via the port of Haifa is currently not possible, as there is also a danger warning for exits via the sea area, according to the Federal Foreign Office.

With the country in a state of war and its airspace closed, the situation is confusing and, in some cases, dangerous. German citizens are urged to leave Iran.

According to information from the Federal Foreign Office, the borders between Iran and Armenia and between Iran and Turkey are open. The borders between Iran and Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are closed to regular traffic. The crisis team is continuously reviewing all options for exit routes and is in close contact with the foreign missions in the region, a spokeswoman for the Federal Foreign Office said.

The German Embassy in Tehran is currently closed to visitors due to the crisis, according to the institution's online information . Anyone still in the country is urged to register on the crisis preparedness list .

"As soon as departure is possible again, please follow the Federal Foreign Office's unchanged request to leave the country as soon as possible," it continues. However, it must be expected "that there may continue to be significant restrictions on exit options by air, land, and sea in the future."

According to the embassy, ​​Germans in Iran should inform themselves about the current situation through the media, follow the instructions of local authorities, and remain in a safe place such as their home. Crowds should be avoided and: "Under no circumstances should you photograph any damage caused by airstrikes."

In light of the escalation in the Middle East, the Federal Foreign Office had already advised against all non-essential travel to the entire Gulf region on Friday. The online travel advice for the following countries has been amended accordingly: the United Arab Emirates, including the popular holiday destination of Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan.

A travel warning has been issued for all of Israel. This is an even higher alert level for countries where there is a danger to life and limb. However, this does not mean a travel ban. Travel warnings were already in place for Iran and Yemen before the current escalation of the situation. The same applies to parts of Lebanon and Iraq . The Federal Foreign Office also generally advises against travel to these two countries.

Germany's largest airline, Lufthansa, has suspended flights to Israel for security reasons since the beginning of May. Last Friday, the Lufthansa Group also suspended all flights to and from Tehran until further notice.

With material from the news agencies dpa and Reuters