US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. AFP
In a video post on X early Tuesday, Huckabee said the embassy has received numerous requests from US citizens and their families about evacuation options, but warned that choices are “very limited.”
“As of now, the best is utilizing Israel's Ministry of Tourism shuttle bus to Taba, Egypt, and getting flights from there or going on to Cairo for flights back to the US,” he wrote, adding that it remains unclear when Ben Gurion Airport will fully reopen.
Huckabee warned that even if operations resume at the Tel Aviv airport, flights are expected to be limited and prioritized for passengers already ticketed with El Al, adding that other international airlines are unlikely to resume services immediately.
“The US Embassy cannot make any recommendation (for or against) the Ministry of Tourism’s shuttle. If you choose to avail yourself of this option to depart, the US government cannot guarantee your safety,” the statement added.
Huckabee confirmed that the Taba crossing is open 24 hours a day. While some flights operate from Taba, travellers can also proceed onward to Cairo, where Egyptian airports are functioning normally, except for certain Middle Eastern routes.
He advised against leaving Israel via Jordan, citing inconsistent flight schedules and limited operating hours at the Allenby border crossing.
The advisory follows a broader warning issued Monday by the US Department of State, urging Americans across the Middle East to leave immediately due to “serious safety risks” linked to the ongoing conflict between the US and Israel on one side and Iran on the other.
The advisory covers Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The State Department instructed US citizens in these areas to depart “using available commercial transportation.”
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