Israel to Launch Limited Rescue Flights for Stranded Citizens 

Israel will initiate rescue flights within 72 hours to repatriate tens of thousands of citizens stranded abroad due to the closure of its airspace, following approval from the Defense Ministry, Transportation Minister Miri Regev announced.

The operation, limited to two planes per hour during daylight hours, will focus on hubs in Larnaca, Cyprus, and Athens, Greece, subject to security coordination. Israeli airlines, including El Al, Arkia, Israir, and Air Haifa, are preparing to operate these flights but await final clearance, with a registration link to be published upon approval, according to journalist Einav Kerner.

An estimated 100,000 Israelis are currently overseas, with approximately 3,000 urgently seeking to return, Regev noted earlier.

The partial reopening of airspace follows heightened security threats, including a Houthi missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport in May and ballistic missile attacks from Iran.

The rescue plan comes amid significant disruptions. On Monday, an El Al flight from Athens landed in Israel, with another en route from New York, but foreign airlines’ mass cancellations have slashed daily passenger traffic from 70,000 to 40,000, with fewer than 25 carriers still operating. The National Security Council has issued a level 4 travel warning, urging Israelis to avoid Jordan and Taba border crossings due to security risks.

Regev, criticized for earlier transportation mishaps during the conflict, has called on Israeli airlines to avoid “unfair price increases” during the crisis.

Stranded citizens are advised to contact the Foreign Ministry’s emergency hotline or local embassies.

The daylight-only flight schedule and limited capacity may delay returns for many, but Regev emphasized the operation’s urgency, stating, “This is a historic moment of responsibility to bring our people home safely.”