Today, the Israel Ministry of Tourism announced that the "Safe Return" framework for outbound flights from Israel has begun for Israeli citizens and tourists looking to leave the country as the Israel-Iran conflict continues.
Tourists and citizens are advised to contact Israeli airlines directly. Airlines that have received approval to fly from Ben Gurion Airport — now reopened for limited flights —include El Al, Israir and Air Haifa. Per Safe Return, these flights will have up to 50 passengers only to reduce the number of people and time spent at the airport.
Editor's Note: This story was originally published on June 17. It was updated with new information on June 23.
Flights will operate from Terminal 3 only, and entry is only allowed for passengers, except for children and assisted passengers. Security check-in will take place on the ground floor before transfer to Floor 3, and travelers must arrive two hours before departure and not any earlier. The ministry is recommending that travelers arrive to Ben Gurion by public transportation.
The ministry is also sharing that it is possible to leave Israel via sea, and that ticket purchases can be made through shipping companies. Another option is to leave Israel through land crossings to Jordan and Egypt, and from there continue with international flights. For operating hours of land crossings, check Israel Airports Authority’s website.
The ministry is not recommending one form of travel over another. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem is saying that Americans “seeking to depart Israel or the West Bank should take the first available option, even if it is not your first choice of destination.”
The U.S. Embassy is also saying that it cannot endorse any form of travel over others, but that it is aware of Americans leaving Israel via third parties to Jordan and Egypt by land and to Cyprus by sea.
The U.S. State Department is continuing to offer assisted departure flights and continues to encourage U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents to fill out its crisis intake form for assistance and timely updates.
Tourists seeking additional information can visit the Ministry of Tourism’s virtual office, which is available 24/7 in Hebrew and English by email (virtual@goisrael.gov.il); by WhatsApp (through phone number +972-53-583-5808); and by Facebook (Israel Virtual Tourist Office).
On Monday, June 16, the U.S. State Department raised its travel advisory for Israel to Level 4, or “Do Not Travel.” According to the Israel Ministry of Tourism, there were nearly 40,000 tourists in Israel at the start of the conflict.
