Israel's Stranded Citizens Touch Down in Tel Aviv, Marking First Repatriation Flight Amid Middle East Conflict
Israel-bound airplane carrying stranded citizens arriving at Tel Aviv airport
In the heart of chaos, a glimmer of hope: a plane carrying Israeli citizens, stranded for days amid the escalating conflict with Iran, has touched down at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv today. Thousands of Israelis are still anxious, waiting for their own return.
Kicking off the repatriation efforts, an Israeli-Cypriot operation began last Friday, utilizing Larnaca Airport as a vital transit hub. This comes after the closure of Israeli airspace and the suspension of major carriers' flights due to the intensifying hostilities between Israel and Iran.
Miri Regev, Israel's Transport Minister, reported the shocking figure of between 100,000 and 150,000 Israelis currently outside their homeland. The Israeli airline El Al led the rescue mission, flying passengers from Cyprus into Israelian soil.
As the Middle East conflict intensifies, Israel views Iran's nuclear program as an existential threat. Tehran, on the other hand, denies seeking nuclear weaponry. Both nations have continued their violent exchanges overnight. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard fired two rocket salvos at the Jewish state within less than an hour.
To ensure passenger safety, the repatriation operations have been organized in stages based on the current security risk. The Israeli low-cost airline Arkia also announced special flights starting Wednesday, joining El Al in these critical missions.
This ongoing conflict has forced Israelis to rely on alternative routes, with Larnaca Airport serving as a lifeline for those unable to use direct flights due to regional airspace disruptions. Cyprus has activated its emergency response plan to assist in this mass evacuation, particularly for Israeli nationals stranded on the island.
Sources: ntv.de, mbr/AFP/dpa
- Middle East Conflict
- Israel
- Israel War
- Nuclear Weapons
- Cyprus
In the midst of the escalating confrontation, multiple discussions have transpired regarding community and employment policies for returning Israelis. As the ongoing Israel War extends, people's lifestyles and travel plans have been substantially impacted. Meanwhile, the political landscape remains tense as both nations, Israel and Iran, engage in verbal skirmishes over Iran's controversial nuclear program. General news outlets and sports channels alike have been reporting extensively on these events, with sports taking a backseat momentarily due to the war-and-conflicts crisis.
