Gladness Gideon
The Israeli military on Friday announced the arrival of a passenger vessel carrying more than 1,500 Israeli citizens who had been stranded abroad following the recent escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran.
The ship, which departed from the Port of Limassol in Cyprus, arrived at the Ashdod Port as part of Operation “Safe Return,” a coordinated evacuation effort initiated by Israel’s Ministry of Transportation. The vessel was escorted by an Israeli Navy missile boat to ensure the safety of those on board.
The return operation follows widespread disruption to air travel after Israel conducted a military strike on Iran last Friday. In response to the heightened security situation, Israeli airports were temporarily closed, and outbound commercial flights were cancelled, leaving an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 Israeli nationals stranded overseas, according to figures from the Ministry of Transportation.
While airspace restrictions have since eased, the government has launched an extensive recovery programme to repatriate its citizens. Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev stated on Thursday that approximately 5,000 people had returned by air on Wednesday and Thursday. She added that the number of inbound flights was expected to double by Friday.
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Israel’s national airline, El Al, has committed to operating additional recovery flights from key destinations including Europe, the United States, and Thailand.
Authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the safe and swift return of all citizens still abroad, using both sea and air transport. Friday’s arrival marks the first successful maritime leg of the operation.