Some 2,800 young people participating in Birthright have been stranded in Israel after their plans in the country were abruptly cancelled amid escalating conflict with Iran
June 18, 2025 13:20
After being stranded in Israel for several days amid escalating conflict with Iran, thousands of young Birthright participants danced and partied aboard the cruise ship chartered to evacuate them to Cyprus
Under the close protection of the Israeli Navy, which escorted the vessel across the Mediterranean, more than 1,500 young people, mostly Americans, were transported on Tuesday aboard the Crown Iris, an Israeli cruise ship, on the 13-hour journey from Ashdod to Larnaca, Cyprus.
The mission marks the first leg of an unprecedented repatriation effort of nearly 2,800 Birthright participants whose tour plans were interrupted by the escalation with Iran early Friday morning.
1,500 @birthright Israel participants who have been stuck in Israel were evacuated to Cyprus on a cruise ship.
— Lahav Harkov 🎗️ (@LahavHarkov) June 17, 2025
This video, while Iran rains missiles on Israel, is even more absurd than the @Eretz_Nehederet sketch about Birthright. pic.twitter.com/c3qApuoWOm
“This was a complex and emotional operation, carried out under immense pressure,” Birthright CEO Gidi Mark said, who was on the ground in Cyprus coordinating logistics. “Today we witnessed the true spirit of Birthright Israel – not only as an educational journey, but as a global family committed to the safety and wellbeing of every participant.”
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Semi-viral clips of the poolside partying were posted across social media. One commentator wrote: “I didn’t think it was possible, but Iran is actually going to make *more* birthright kids hook up. They are literally making more Jews.”
Upon arriving in Cyprus, most of the 1,800 were flown to Tampa, Florida on four wide-body planes chartered by the state and its governor, Ron DeSantis, before flying on to their home states.
