Starting Monday, Israelis Will Be Allowed to Travel Abroad – With Approval from an Exceptions Committee Only
Israel’s Exceptions Committee will begin approving outbound travel requests starting Monday. Transport Minister Miri Regev: “We will continue to act until the hostages return – meanwhile, ensuring the safe return of Israelis home”
The State of Israel continues to operate Operation “Safe Return”, and this week marks the beginning of a particularly significant third phase – the controlled departure of Israelis abroad. According to Transport Minister Miri Regev’s announcement, starting next Monday, Israelis will be allowed to travel abroad, but only with prior approval from an Exceptions Committee.
Regev emphasized the need to continue following Home Front Command guidelines, adding: “We will continue to act until the hostages return. Meanwhile, it is important for us to allow citizens to exit and enter the country safely and in a controlled manner.”
Operation Stages: Aircraft Evacuation, Coordinated Landings, and Approved Departures
Regev, of the Ministry of Transport, presented the three stages of the operation so far:
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The First Stage – Evacuation of aircraft to safe locations and evacuation of citizens who were at Ben Gurion Airport.
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The Second Stage – Began yesterday (Wednesday) and included 12 flights arriving at Ben Gurion Airport, and 9 additional flights landing in Haifa.
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The Third Stage, starting today, includes coordinating rescue flights, establishing a joint command center, opening exceptions committees, and a planned framework for Israelis traveling abroad.
Today (Thursday), 15 rescue flights are expected to take place, and tomorrow – the number is expected to double: approximately 30 flights are expected to land, including flights from New York and a flight from Bangkok. The Transport Minister instructed to utilize every possible time window for flying Israelis home.
Regev also addressed the issue of the Sabbath: If El Al decides to forgo its slots during the Sabbath, these will be transferred to other Israeli companies – Israir and Arkia – which will share the destinations among themselves.
Exceptions Committee, Public Response, and Land and Sea Cooperation
As part of the operation, an the newly formed committee was established under the leadership of the Prime Minister’s Office, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport, the Home Front Command, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Population and Immigration Authority. The committee began operations this afternoon and has already received thousands of inquiries. Responses to applicants will be provided gradually – depending on the approval or denial of departure from the country. The same phone number intended for obtaining flight approval to Israel is the number Israelis wishing to leave Israel will call – through which they will need to obtain approval from the Exceptions Committee.
It was also agreed with the airlines that 15% of flight seats will be allocated for humanitarian or exceptional cases – even for passengers who are not customers of the company.
Minister Regev emphasized that the airline Air Haifa is also participating in the operation and is bringing Israelis back from European countries to Haifa.
Also by sea – the array is expanding: Tomorrow, a ship from Mano Maritime will arrive in Israel from Larnaca with about 1,800 Israelis. Additionally, Israel is in advanced talks with the company MSC to operate rescue ferries, subject to final approval from the Ministry of Defense.
Dozens of Rescue Flights Daily, and Looking Ahead
According to Sharon Kedmi, CEO of the Airports Authority: “Tomorrow, 25 rescue flights will depart from Ben Gurion Airport and another 9 flights from Haifa – a total of about 6,000 passengers. This is a complex operation that does not operate according to a fixed schedule but depends on the security situation and a changing outline.” The number of 6,000 passengers refers only to those landing at airports in Israel – and does not include Israelis returning via land crossings and landing at nearby airports, such as Aqaba in Jordan and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.
The country is also preparing for a gradual plan of outbound flights from Israel next week, under strict restrictions from the Home Front Command and risk management. One of the routes mentioned as an alternative solution is the Rabin crossing, near Aqaba – located only about a 10-minute drive from the border with Israel.
Rescue Data and Transportation Preparedness
Idan Moalem, head of the Public Transportation Authority, stated that passengers landing will receive organized shuttle services from the field to major cities – both at Ben Gurion Airport and at Haifa Airport. Those who left their cars at Ben Gurion Airport will also be accommodated and can return to them via organized shuttle.
So far, between 7,000 and 8,000 Israelis have returned by sea. Minister Regev approved easements on vessels to allow passenger entry at all hours of the day.
Today, an unusual incident occurred when the engine of a ship flying the Cypriot flag broke down at sea. The ship began drifting towards the Lebanese area – there were also Israelis on board. Authorities acted quickly, and the ship was safely brought to the shores of Israel.
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