FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – Flights carrying Israeli citizens from Larnaca have landed at Ben Gurion Airport, as Israel’s Airports Authority announced that a total of 2,800 people are expected to return today.
Between 100,000 and 150,000 Israelis remain stranded abroad due to the ongoing aerial conflict between Israel and Iran, which has led to the closure of Israeli airspace.
There are no signs of de-escalation, as Israeli and Iranian forces continue exchanging strikes for a sixth consecutive day.
“Our goal is to bring back as many citizens as possible, but their safety remains the top priority,” said Airports Authority CEO Sharon Kentmi in an interview with Army Radio.
“We are conducting hourly assessments,” he added.
Efforts to repatriate Cypriots from Israel are also continuing. In a statement, the Airports Authority said the repatriation operation is being carried out in stages, based on risk levels and current security evaluations, with a strong emphasis on passenger, crew, and aircraft safety.
The authority also urged the public not to come to Ben Gurion Airport to greet arriving passengers or call taxis to pick them up due to the “current security situation.”