Belarus announced problems with the evacuation of citizens from Israel due to US sanctions

The US sanctions imposed against the Belarusian airline are preventing the evacuation of Belarusian citizens from Israel on a direct flight; the embassy is working to solve the problem, said the republic’s ambassador to Tel Aviv, Evgeniy Vorobiev.

Now the embassy is providing the necessary advice to those who would like to return to Belarus, and a record of citizens is being kept “in case a more convenient and faster option becomes available,” Vorobiev said. Ambassador, how transmits BelTA agency said that the “big problem” in this matter is the Western sanctions that were imposed on the carrier Belavia. Restrictions prevent the launch of a direct flight, despite the permission received from the Israeli side, he added.

In addition, it is also not yet possible to evacuate Belarusian citizens from the Gaza Strip, since there is no humanitarian corridor for evacuation to Egypt. According to the latest data, three citizens of Belarus were killed as a result of hostilities between Israel and the Hamas group. According to Vorobyov, one woman was seriously wounded as a result of a direct missile hit on a residential building in the south of the country, and she died a week ago. Also victims were three people from the republic who had lived in the Jewish state for a long time, the ambassador said.

On October 8, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry reported that two citizens of the republic – a son and mother – were injured as a result of rocket attacks on the city of Ashkelon. The condition of one of them was assessed as extremely serious.

On April 8, 2022, Washington banned flights to Belarus or Russia on Republic-owned, controlled or operated aircraft manufactured in the United States. In June, the US Department of Commerce tightened sanctions against the Belarusian national airline Belavia due to violations of export control measures.

Under the new restrictions, companies around the world are prohibited from servicing, repairing or otherwise using American parts or equipment to service Belavia’s fleet.