Over 550,000 Israelis leave country in first 6 months of war

(MENAFN) According to a report from an Israeli news agency on Sunday, more than 550,000 Israelis departed the country and did not return during the initial six months of the Israel-Hamas conflict, as indicated by data from the Population and Immigration Authority. This departure figure exceeds the number of returnees recorded by April of this year.

Initially viewed as possibly temporary departures due to the wartime situation or logistical challenges in returning, these exits now appear to represent a growing trend towards permanent migration. As of April, Israel's population, according to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, was approximately 9.9 million. This figure includes over 2 million Palestinians, 400,000 Palestinians residing in East Jerusalem, and around 20,000 Syrians in the Golan Heights.

Many Israelis hold dual citizenship, possessing at least one other nationality alongside their Israeli citizenship. The ongoing conflict, sparked by a Hamas attack on October 7 last year, has drawn international criticism as Israel continues its military operations in Gaza, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.

According to local health authorities in Gaza, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 37,500 Palestinians, a majority of whom are reported to be women and children. Additionally, nearly 86,000 others have been injured amid the ongoing violence.

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