Israel’s Ministry of Transportation confirmed on Monday it plans to use two cruise ships to bring home Israelis stranded overseas, as the country’s airspace remains closed indefinitely following last week’s military strikes on Iran.
The evacuation plan would use ships owned by Mano Shipping Company to transport passengers from Cyprus back to Israel by sea. Each vessel can accommodate about 2,000 people, potentially helping a fraction of the estimated 200,000 Israelis currently stuck abroad with no flight options.
Stay informed with JBN email alerts! Get the latest updates on breaking stories, global events, and community news directly in your inbox.“Mano Shipping is a private company, and all arrangements for the voyage are managed directly by it,” the Ministry of Transportation said in a statement. “Once the company publishes a registration link, the public will be able to book and purchase tickets through its website or platform. All reservations, payments, and related details are exclusively handled by Mano.”
Mano Shipping will handle all logistics for the sea evacuations, including ticket sales and passenger arrangements, once security approval comes through. The ministry stressed that the sea route still needs approval from Israel’s Home Front Command and Defense Ministry before any ships can depart. However, officials provided no timeline for when those security agencies might green-light the operation.
Israel’s airspace shut down Friday after the IDF launched “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and military infrastructure. Tehran has since responded with missile barrages that hit several Israeli cities, killing 24 people and injuring hundreds.
Ben Gurion Airport remains closed with no reopening date announced. Israeli airlines El Al, Israir, and Arkia evacuated their fleets to Cyprus to protect the aircraft from potential Iranian retaliation. While land crossings with Egypt and Jordan technically remain open, Israel’s National Security Council issued Level 4 travel warnings for both countries, advising citizens to wait for the airport to reopen rather than risk overland routes.
Thousands of Israelis who were traveling when the crisis erupted have already made their way to Greece and Cyprus, hoping to catch rescue flights. However, Israeli officials say there are currently no immediate plans to offer flights from those destinations, leaving the proposed sea route as potentially the only organized evacuation option.
Meanwhile, airlines across the region canceled thousands of flights as airspace closures spread beyond Israel and Iran to include Iraq, Jordan, and Syria. Major carriers including Lufthansa, Emirates, and Qatar Airways suspended Middle East routes, while U.S. airlines Delta and United halted Tel Aviv service through at least late June.
So SO very sad! Of course, this article only focuses on physical travel. Then there’s the spiritual disruptions that are completely shutting down the blessed traditions and holy rituals the Israel – and especially Jerusalem – are know worldwide for. I open my browser every morning to visit the Kotel, or ‘Western Wall,’ which is ALWAYS populated with the beloved Children of YAH, Hashem, praying fervently for His benevolent grace and provision.
It has been EMPTY for DAYS now! My heart breaks as I have come realize the immense burden that these lovely souls carry for the whole world! The days of woe are starting, and the fools that seemingly run this world will indeed be given ‘ONE HOUR’ of power… but their authority will be stripped away in a moment, because they did not recognize their ferocious blunder which was written of lonnnnnnng ago. The world will not soon forget the wrath that is about to be poured out on it, as each one chose their side – wrongly.
‘ Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare war. Stir up the mighty men. Let all the warriors draw near. Let them come up. ‘
‘ Beat your plowshares into swords,
And your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, “I am strong.” ‘
‘ Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations,
And gather yourselves together.”
Cause your mighty ones to come down there, YHWH. ‘
‘ “Let the nations arouse themselves,
And come up to the valley of Yehoshafat;
For there will I sit to judge all the surrounding nations. ‘
‘ Put in the sickle; For the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the winepress is full,
The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.” ‘
‘ Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
For The Day of YHWH is near, in the valley of decision. ‘
‘ The sun and the moon are darkened, And the stars withdraw their shining.” ‘
‘ YHWH will roar from Tziyon,
And thunder from Yerushalayim;
And the heavens and the eretz will shake;
But YHWH will be a refuge to His People,
And a stronghold to The Children of Yisra’el. ‘
‘ “So you will know that I AM YHWH, your Hashem,
Dwelling in Tziyon, my holy mountain.
Then Yerushalayim will be holy,
And no strangers will pass through her any more. ‘
– Yoel 3:9-17 (HNV)