The first repatriation flights for Israelis stranded abroad by the war with Iran have touched down at Ben-Gurion Airport.
Israeli airspace has been closed since last week after the IDF and Mossad activated Operation Rising Lion, a wave of strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.
Since then, the two nations have exchanged missile fire, with population centres from Tehran to Tel Aviv coming under bombardment.
Amid the chaos, up to an estimated 150,000 Israelis have been effectively locked out of the Jewish State as its airspace was shut down.
In an effort to get them home, the Transport Ministry has worked will national carrier El Al, as well as its rival Akria, to put on a schedule of one-way flights to Ben-Gurion.
Footage posted to social media earlier today showed passengers from the first rescue flight arriving from Larnaca, Cyprus in joy.
One woman kissed the ground of the arrivals hall as other travellers embraced relatives, as well as Trasnport Minister Miri Regev who was there to welcome them.
The government rescue plan will include flights from several major cities that El Al services but will not include outbound travel at this stage.
The list of the cities and the flights times will be announced by the Israeli airline in the coming days.
We will carry out the gradual return of Israelis in a staged manner in coordination with the Ministry of Defense,” Regev said. “I am aware of the distress of Israelis wanting to return home, but we will not take a chance and allow a plane to land and then heaven forfend there is an event on the ground where we will need to explain how we allowed a plane to land with more than 300 people killed.
“I am asking those abroad to have patience. There is no reason to be under pressure. You are abroad. Enjoy,” she said.
An El Al spokesperson added: “At this time, El Al is formulating the list of destinations and the scope of flights that will be allowed to operate under this plan.
"The purpose of the registration is to map the location of our customers in the world, and accordingly build a flight schedule.
"The rescue flights will be operated in a phased manner, and therefore patience will be required from El Al customers staying abroad.
"We recommend that passengers prepare and make accommodation and lodging arrangements."
They explained that the airline would prioritise “exceptional humanitarian cases, subject to the presentation of appropriate certificates and approval by a medical team on behalf of El Al” and “political and security needs – subject to approvals from relevant state authorities”.
They also emphasised that the repatriations would take place based on passengers’ original flight dates rather than the date of registration.
