A total of 52 Cypriots who are currently in Israel have requested to return to the island amid the country’s escalating conflict with Iran and the cancellation of flights to and from the country, foreign ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis said on Saturday.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, he said those comprise 11 hospital patients and 16 of their companions, as well as four people who permanently reside in Israel, and 21 people who had visited the country for “work and other reasons”.

Two of those 21, he added, have since departed for Egypt, and will return to Cyprus on a flight from Cairo airport.

He said that in addition, one patient whose treatment in Israel had been completed and was due to fly back to Cyprus by air ambulance on Saturday safely returned to the island as planned.

“They are all in contact with the consular services of our embassy in Tel Aviv,” he said, describing the situation as “manageable”.

In total, he said, there are around 30 Cypriot nationals and people of Cypriot origin living in Israel and 90 living in the West Bank.

“At the moment, they are all safe and protected in the places where they are,” he said, adding that his ministry is “monitoring … the development of the crisis in the region”.