Amid a severe conflict between Israel and Iran, El Al, Israel's national airline, confirmed on Tuesday that it will begin repatriating stranded Israelis from select cities in Europe starting Wednesday. The operation comes after a government approval amid the ongoing airspace closure affecting commercial flights.
El Al stated that the initial flights would include routes from Athens, Rome, Milan, Paris, and Larnaca, Cyprus, but flights were already fully booked shortly after the announcement. The airline mentioned that priority for these recovery flights would prioritize those whose flights were canceled earliest and urgent medical cases.
Since the outbreak of hostilities on Friday morning, normal flights in and out of Israel have been severely disrupted. Those who left Israel before the conflict began are now unable to return, as the busy airspace remains on lockdown. El Al reported that regularly scheduled flights will remain canceled until at least the upcoming Monday.
Concerns also arise over the safety of those currently in Israel, with advisories from the Israeli National Security Council recommending against crossing borders into Jordan or Egypt due to heightened security threats.
In addition to El Al operations, some tourists stranded in Cyprus are expected to return via a cruise ship run by Mano Maritime. This vessel can accommodate up to 2,000 passengers and would make coordinated journeys to rapidly address the urgent need for repatriation, taking about 16 hours for a one-way trip.
Reports indicate that amid rising casualties—24 in Israel and over 200 in Iran—some Israeli citizens are opting to remain abroad, with uncertainty lurking over the conflict's duration and resolution.
As this humanitarian crisis unfolds, the efforts of El Al and other organizations remain a beacon of hope for Israelis caught in a precarious situation abroad.
