As the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies, El Al, the national airline of Israel, is poised to repatriate stranded citizens from key European cities while the situation remains precarious.
Israeli Airline Initiates Flights to Repatriate Stranded Citizens Amid Ongoing Iran Conflict
Israeli Airline Initiates Flights to Repatriate Stranded Citizens Amid Ongoing Iran Conflict
El Al begins recovery flights for 100,000 stranded Israelis as airspace remains closed due to escalating hostilities with Iran.
El Al announced on Tuesday that it will operate flights to repatriate Israeli travelers stranded in several European cities like Athens, Rome, Milan, Paris, and Larnaca, Cyprus, starting Wednesday. This decision comes on the fifth day of fierce conflicts between Israel and Iran, which led to the closure of Israeli airspace. The airline stated it received governmental approval to proceed with these operations and mentioned that the flights are already fully booked. The prioritization of passengers is based on the date of their original flight cancellations and urgent medical retrieval needs.
Currently, between 100,000 and 150,000 Israelis remain overseas, unable to return home due to the ongoing air operations surrounding the surprise attacks on Iran. El Al announced that all regular flight schedules will be suspended until at least the upcoming Monday. Moreover, for those who were visiting Israel when the attacks begun, the timeline for their return remains unknown as no outbound flights from Israel to international destinations are being arranged.
In light of safety concerns, the Israeli National Security Council has advised citizens against crossing through borders with neighboring Jordan or Egypt to return home. Aside from flights operated by El Al, some Israelis stranded in Cyprus will be repatriated via cruise ships under the operation of Mano Maritime, which will facilitate transport starting Thursday from Limassol. The cruise can transport around 2,000 passengers and will undertake a round trip that takes approximately 16 hours.
Despite the push for repatriation, some Israeli travelers have opted to remain abroad for safety reasons, as the conflict shows no signs of abatement. Current casualty figures indicate that approximately 24 individuals have died and around 600 have sustained injuries in Israel, while strikes in Iran have claimed over 200 lives and left 1,400 injured, depicting the escalating humanitarian crisis on both sides.
This situation reflects not only the regional tensions but also the broader impact of warfare on civilians, urging both nations to reconsider their operational strategies amid growing casualties.
Currently, between 100,000 and 150,000 Israelis remain overseas, unable to return home due to the ongoing air operations surrounding the surprise attacks on Iran. El Al announced that all regular flight schedules will be suspended until at least the upcoming Monday. Moreover, for those who were visiting Israel when the attacks begun, the timeline for their return remains unknown as no outbound flights from Israel to international destinations are being arranged.
In light of safety concerns, the Israeli National Security Council has advised citizens against crossing through borders with neighboring Jordan or Egypt to return home. Aside from flights operated by El Al, some Israelis stranded in Cyprus will be repatriated via cruise ships under the operation of Mano Maritime, which will facilitate transport starting Thursday from Limassol. The cruise can transport around 2,000 passengers and will undertake a round trip that takes approximately 16 hours.
Despite the push for repatriation, some Israeli travelers have opted to remain abroad for safety reasons, as the conflict shows no signs of abatement. Current casualty figures indicate that approximately 24 individuals have died and around 600 have sustained injuries in Israel, while strikes in Iran have claimed over 200 lives and left 1,400 injured, depicting the escalating humanitarian crisis on both sides.
This situation reflects not only the regional tensions but also the broader impact of warfare on civilians, urging both nations to reconsider their operational strategies amid growing casualties.
