Tourists trapped in Israel offered option of rescue flights  

Thousands of foreign tourists trapped in Israel amid the conflict with Iran are being offered an exit route.

Tourism minister Haim Katz said the country’s tourism ministry will enable travellers to register for departure flights from Israel.

Approximately 38,000 tourists are in Israel but commercial flights have been grounded.

Now a registration form is being distributed through various digital platforms to incoming tourism organisers’ offices, hotels, tour guides, and other industry stakeholders.

A 24/7 virtual office has been opened to support tourists.  

A statement said: “The Ministry of Tourism will consolidate the list in a digital vault and transfer it, only as needed, to the National Security Headquarters and the Ministry of Transportation, so that co-ordination with relevant airlines can be arranged to facilitate tourists’ departure from the country.

“It should be noted that all land border crossings to Jordan and Egypt are open, and some tourists prefer to exit via these routes.  

“The Ministry of Tourism has opened a virtual office that provides tourists in Israel with information services through digital channels in Hebrew and English.

“Simultaneously, the Ministry is in contact with industry stakeholders, including hotels and other accommodation facilities, to locate tourists who need assistance due to the security situation.”

Tourists can register by TouristEvacuationFromIsrael@tourism.gov.il?displang=en">filling out this form.

The initiative follows national carrier El Al providing one-way flights to repatriate residents abroad back to Israel.