The newly opened Papua New Guinea (PNG) Embassy in Jerusalem in Israel remains closed at this time after opening just last month, due to the current Israel- Palestine war that has left most of Gaza in ruins from Israeli bombardments. The Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary, Mr. Elias Wohengu in a statement said that the two PNG Foreign Affairs officers assigned to the new Embassy there have already departed Jerusalem after the Embassy was closed on the 17th of October in view of security concerns. The two officers left Israel on the same day. “A number of PNG citizens in Israel at the time also departed with the kind support of the Australian Government as part of their evacuation exercise extended to nationals of other countries. The department is aware that eighteen PNG citizens departed Israel under this evacuation exercise,” said the secretary. Secretary Wohengu also stated that the Embassy’s closure is only temporary. Meanwhile, the Department is asking the members of the public who might know of any fellow PNG citizens that is still in Israel and wishing to return to the country, to contact the Office of the Chief of Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs on phone 301 4115 or 301 4196 and email protocol@dfa.gov.pg. The Department will continue to monitor the situation and re- open the Embassy in Israel when deemed conducive to do so.