Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis met on Monday with the Israeli ambassador to Switzerland and the representative of the Palestinian Authority in Switzerland in order to obtain a clear picture of the situation. In addition, the FDFA's headquarters in Bern are in continuous contact with its representations in Tel Aviv and Ramallah. In view of the volatile situation in the Middle East, Switzerland must be able to act swiftly and in a coordinated fashion. To this end, Mr Cassis has decided to set up a task force to monitor the situation as closely as possible and take whatever decisions are necessary.

The task force is chaired by the head of the FDFA's Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Division, Ambassador Maya Tissafi, and is made up of specialists in legal, consular, humanitarian, security, crisis management and communications matters.

Switzerland immediately condemned acts of terror
Switzerland condemned the outrageous attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel from the Gaza Strip as soon as the first violence began on Saturday 7 October. It has called for the immediate release of everyone who has been taken hostage by Hamas.

Switzerland calls for an immediate end to the violence. It stresses that the civilian population must be protected and international law respected at all times. Switzerland also reiterated its position at the emergency meeting the Security Council held behind closed doors on Sunday evening to discuss the situation in the Middle East.

FDFA assistance for Swiss nationals on the ground
The Swiss embassy in Tel Aviv and representative office in Ramallah remain open, in particular to offer the best possible support to Swiss citizens on the ground. Some 28,000 Swiss nationals and their families are currently officially registered in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Around 430 people with links to Switzerland have registered with the Travel Admin app for Swiss travellers.

People wishing to leave the country are advised to arrange for air travel or explore other departure options. The FDFA is providing information on an ongoing basis on departures coordinated by partner countries for which Swiss citizens may be eligible. For further assistance and in case of emergency, Swiss citizens can contact the Swiss embassy in Tel Aviv or the FDFA Helpline (24 hours a day on +41 800 24 7 365 / 0 800 24 7 365 or by email at helpline@eda.admin.ch). The travel advice published on the FDFA website reflects its current assessment of the situation and is continually updated.

The FDFA currently has no information on any Swiss victims or Swiss nationals who may have been abducted. Its staff in both Tel Aviv and Ramallah are currently safe and well, given the circumstances.

Two-state solution for lasting peace
Switzerland is ready to offer diplomatic support to all the parties and states in the region in their efforts to de-escalate the conflict. It remains convinced that only a two-state solution, negotiated by both parties in accordance with international law, can lead to lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Situation in Israel / occupied Palestinian territory: FDFA sets up task force