Pretoria, South Africa – The South African government has issued an urgent security advisory to its citizens in Israel, warning that the deteriorating situation poses serious risks and urging nationals to prioritise their safety without delay.
In a notice issued on Monday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation stated that South Africans who feel unsafe or uncertain must act immediately. “If you feel unsafe or uncertain, we strongly advise that you act without delay. Your safety takes absolute precedence,” the advisory read, stressing that citizens are responsible for their own travel arrangements.
The warning comes as Ben Gurion International Airport remains closed, with Israeli airspace shut and all flights cancelled until further notice. With air travel suspended, government has pointed to land border crossings as possible exit routes.
Authorities have urged citizens who determine that departure is necessary to prioritise the Jordanian border crossings. The Allenby or King Hussein Bridge operates between 08:00 and 14:30, the Northern Crossing at Beit She’an or Sheikh Hussein from 08:30 to 14:30, and the Southern Crossing at Yitzhak Rabin or Wadi Araba from 08:00 to 20:00. The Menachem Begin Crossing or Taba Terminal into Egypt, near Eilat, operates 24 hours a day and remains an additional option.
Government cautioned that the situation remains fluid and can change at any time. Processing times at border posts typically range from 30 to 60 minutes, but travellers have been advised to allow for possible delays and to travel during daylight hours while maintaining communication throughout their journey.
In a broader regional advisory, South Africa has also called on all citizens across the Middle East to urgently register with the relevant South African embassies accredited to their countries of residence. Officials warned that consular support in some areas may be limited and that in certain emergencies, face-to-face assistance may not be possible.
South Africans in the region may contact missions in Tehran, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait City, Riyadh, Jeddah, Amman, Damascus and Ramallah. Citizens may also contact the DIRCO helpline in Pretoria on +27 12 351 1000. Additional contact details are available on DIRCO’s official website.
Government said the advisory forms part of ongoing efforts to monitor developments and ensure South African nationals remain informed during the period of heightened regional tension.
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