Israel urges nationals to leave Egypt immediately

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Israel on Sunday urged its nationals in Egypt to leave the country "forthwith," hours after a shooting in the Egyptian city of Alexandria that killed two Israeli tourists.

The National Security Council (NSC) "recommends that those presently in Egypt proper and in the Sinai Peninsula, shorten their stays and leave the country forthwith," the prime minister's office said in a statement.

The statement also called on Israelis to avoid travel to countries that are subject to NSC travel warnings.

It said that in "light of the war," “there are concerns of increased motivation by terrorists and lone assailants to carry out attacks in various countries.”

The statement called on Israelis abroad to “exercise due caution and reduce – as much as possible – their presence in public areas.”

The incident came a day after Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, saying it was in response to storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence.

In retaliation, the Israeli army launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, and the fighting continued for a second day on Sunday.