Prague is preparing to assist Czech citizens in Israel and the broader Middle East region amid escalating regional tensions. According to reports, the Czech Republic is ready to deploy repatriation flights to Egypt for its citizens who wish to leave Israel, as the airspace over Israel remains closed.
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announced on Sunday that the Czech Republic is prepared to “immediately send repatriation flights to Egypt” for Czech nationals, noting that those wishing to depart Israel would need to travel by bus to reach the flights.
Approximately 80 Czech citizens are currently awaiting evacuation from Israel, and arrangements are underway to transport them to Egypt, a government representative confirmed.
The move comes as concerns grow for the safety of Czechs in the region. Several individuals have shared their experiences, with one Czech citizen in Israel stating, “I don’t think it would be safe to undertake the journey to a repatriation flight.” Another Czech student in Israel indicated that it is “safer for us to stay where we are.”
Beyond Israel, the Czech Republic is also monitoring the situation in other Middle Eastern countries. A volleyball player currently in Israel stated, “I must respect what the club wants. I believe they won’t hold us here by force.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has convened a crisis team to address the situation and is coordinating with the Slovak government to provide assistance to Slovak citizens as well. The number of Czech citizens registering their presence in the region through the “Drozd” travel registration system continues to rise, with thousands now registered, particularly in the United Arab Emirates.
As of Sunday afternoon, approximately 3,500 Czech citizens are registered in the United Arab Emirates, 900 in Oman, and hundreds more in Jordan and Israel. Smaller numbers are also registered in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
The Czech government has two Airbus planes and eight CASA aircraft available for repatriation efforts. A meeting of the Security Council of the State is scheduled for Monday morning to discuss the evolving situation and potential further actions. The development underscores growing regional tensions and the challenges of evacuating citizens from conflict zones.
