In a significant development for U.S. citizens in Israel, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem informed American nationals on Thursday morning that the State Department is preparing contingencies to facilitate their departure from the country.
The embassy sent an email to those enrolled in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), indicating: “We will alert the U.S. citizen community if there is additional information to share regarding departure options.”
The message emphasized that any assistance provided by the U.S. government would likely involve travel to a nearby, safe country rather than direct flights back to the United States.
Americans interested in leaving were asked to complete an online form for assistance.
Upon arrival in the safe country, consular officers are expected to be available to provide essential services, including assistance with repatriation loans for returning to the U.S., provided the individuals meet the qualifications.
While the U.S. government will not charge for the departure service, individuals will need to sign a promissory note agreeing to repay the government, with an estimated amount to be disclosed before travel.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee took to social media early Thursday to advise Americans to register for the STEP program, echoing a message he had shared previously.
His earlier post had sparked some confusion when the State Department clarified that there had been no official announcement about assistance for private U.S. citizens at that time.
Huckabee also noted that the U.S. is working to arrange military, commercial, charter flights, and even cruise ships for potential evacuations, urging Americans to accept these opportunities if offered.
As the situation escalated, he advised families in Israel to stay close to shelters and remain vigilant, particularly in light of recent air raid sirens.
Israel’s primary international gateway, Ben Gurion International Airport, along with the entire airspace and seaports of the country, remained closed as of Thursday.
A number of countries, including China and several European nations, began evacuating their citizens from Israel in earlier measures this week.
In a related context, President Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of U.S. involvement in Israel’s ongoing military actions against Iran, suggesting that he had approved plans for attacks but had not made a final decision on engagement.
When pressed on the U.S. military’s potential role in strikes against Iran’s nuclear and military sites, Trump responded, “I may do it, I may not do it, nobody knows what I’m going to do.”
Trump has called for the complete surrender of Iran, a sentiment that was met with a stern warning from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who stated that Iran would not yield and cautioned against military intervention from the United States.
As the situation unfolds, several Americans have been attempting to exit Israel through its border with Jordan.
Among them was a couple from Vermont who traveled to Israel for a wedding earlier in June and discovered only recently that they had the option to exit through land borders to Jordan.
Another couple stranded during their tour in Israel shared their experiences and noted that their tour company had arranged their travel to the Jordan border amid the ongoing unrest.
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