Finland will evacuate its citizens from Israel and Palestinian territories in coming days, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP) told reporters on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the ministry's Director General of Consular Services, Jussi Tanner, said that two charter flights will be carried out on Friday and Saturday, adding that the ministry aims to evacuate Finnish citizens in need of assistance by Saturday morning at the latest.
The FM said there are still more than 170 Finns in the crisis zone who need support with travel arrangements or assistance in leaving the area.
Finland is working closely with other Nordic countries in coordinating the evacuations, the ministry said.
Valtonen on Wednesday said she had postponed a trip to Washington that was scheduled for 12 October.
She was to have met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. However, the US State Department said that Blinken is leaving on Wednesday for a three-day trip to Israel and Jordan.
Article and lede updated 12:04 12.10.2023 to add Tanner's comments on specific flight information.
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