Harun Nasrullah
Official data revealed on December 31 revealed that at least 82,000 Israelis left the country in 2024 amid escalating conflict and political instability. Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported that while 82,700 nationals emigrated last year, only 23,800 returned.
The figures underscore a growing trend of disillusionment, with many citing Israel’s ongoing wars in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen as driving factors behind the exodus. Partial data from September showed a 59% rise in long-term departures from 2023, marking one of the highest annual increases recently.
The exodus is hitting Israel’s elite particularly hard. Highly skilled professionals, including doctors and academics, are among those leaving, fuelling concerns of a significant brain drain. Observers warn that this trend could undermine the nation’s economic and social fabric. “Without these critical contributors, Israel’s future hangs in the balance,” analysts have noted.
Some Israelis go beyond emigration to publicly renounce their ties to the state. In December, Avi Steinberg, an Israeli-born author, formally renounced his citizenship. Writing in the left-leaning publication Truthout, Steinberg called Israeli citizenship “a tool of genocide” and criticised laws he claims perpetuate settler colonialism and systemic discrimination against Palestinians.
Steinberg, raised in an Orthodox Jewish setting, cited historical laws such as the 1948 Declaration of Independence and the 1952 Citizenship Law as institutionalising inequities. His renunciation has highlighted growing ideological divides within Israeli society.
Meanwhile, Germany has emerged as a popular destination for those leaving Israel. Germany reported 18,448 Israeli citizenship applications in early 2024, more than double the total from 2023.
Israel’s population growth has also slowed significantly, dropping from 1.6% in 2023 to 1.1% in 2024. As of the end of last year, the population stood at 10.027 million, comprising 7.7 million Jews, 2.1 million Palestinian citizens, and 216,000 foreign residents.
While Israelis leave, Gaza’s population is being decimated by ongoing military campaigns. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), Gaza’s population fell by 6% in 2024 due to Israel’s assault. The PCBS reported 45,541 Palestinian deaths, at least 11,000 missing individuals presumed buried under rubble, and approximately 100,000 forced to flee.
International criticism of Israel’s actions continues to mount. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes in Gaza. The International Court of Justice is also investigating genocide charges against Israel.
Photo: Departures area in Ben Gurion International Airport, Lod, Israel (Credit: Wikki Commons)
Trump’s sanctions rollback fuels Israeli settler violence and West Bank annexation push
US has committed a staggering $22 billion to support Israel’s military operations since October 2023
Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of “acts of genocide” in Gaza amid water crises
Norway requests FIFA investigate Israel following the World Cup qualifier draw
