Twenty Vietnamese people are being trapped in the fighting areas between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung said on Wednesday evening, five days after a bloody conflict broke out between the two sides.  

The ambassador provided the information while talking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper about the situation of the Vietnamese community in Israel amid the ongoing fierce conflict.

All these Vietnamese have been safe generally so far, Trung said. 

The 20 stuck people include five students in the Israeli city of Sderot, only about 10 kilometers from the Gaza Strip, which has been controlled by Hamas and is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, the ambassador said.

These students have received top priority from Israeli authorities as they are living in a dangerous area. 

A local caretaking unit that has been supporting the students has pledged to move them to a safer place when conditions permit, the diplomat said.

“These students are highly appreciated by their teachers for their skills in responding to emergency cases,” he added.

After the Israeli army regained control of the attacked areas, these students were able to contact the embassy, local Vietnamese community, and student groups again, according to the ambassador. 

They were generally in a comfortable mood, he commented.

Trung said people in large areas in Israel, especially Tel Aviv and the central region, had to take cover in their shelters many times on October 10 (local time) whenever air-raid sirens sounded.

Most of the attacks hit areas around the Gaza Strip. They subsided at night, but a new air-raid siren was heard on October 11.

According to the ambassador, Hamas might be preventing Israel from examining the status quo in the Gaza area before the latter takes steps to rescue hostages taken by the former.

He said citizens of more than 20 countries, including Vietnam, have become victims of the conflict that began last Saturday.

Vietnamese communities in Israel have taken part in movements to voluntarily support those who have been affected by the fighting, the ambassador said.

Many families that have left their residence around the Gaza Strip have been given accommodations and food by such volunteers.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has advised that all Vietnamese delegations and short-term visiting/working groups should find ways to return home early to avoid potential problems.

Many airlines have postponed or canceled flights to and from Israel for safety reasons, Ambassador Trung said.

The embassy is coordinating with Israel authorities to prepare plans to ensure safety for Vietnamese communities in the western Asian country.

Vietnamese citizens who need help can contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel at +972-50-818-6116, +972-52-727-4248, and +972-50-994-0889 or the citizen protection hotline +84 981 84 84 84 of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Consular Department.

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