More than a thousand people were injured and three killed as a crowd stormed the Israeli embassy in Cairo on Friday night.

Thanks to swift action by Egyptian commandos and the Israeli Air Force, the Israeli ambassador, Yitzhak Levanon, and his family escaped harm and were evacuated from Egypt overnight, together with the embassy staff.

The deaths and injuries took place during street clashes outside the embassy as Egyptian police and troops tried to prevent the mob from breaking into the building.

At one point, the attackers tore down a security wall and stormed the embassy offices, before they were driven back.
  
A senior Israeli official said on Saturday: “That the government of Egypt ultimately acted to rescue our people is noteworthy and we are thankful." He added, however, that the attack was a "grave violation" of diplomatic norms and a "blow to peaceful relations" between the two countries.