The recent exchanges of aerial assaults between Israel and Iran have resulted in thousands of Israeli travelers being stranded in Cyprus, while many have been classified as displaced within Israel itself.
Many have found a way out of this predicament by securing spots aboard the Israeli cruise ship “Crown Iris,” which embarked on a journey approximately 270 kilometers back to Israel.
The vessel docked in Limassol port yesterday, having previously disembarked hundreds of Jewish migrants from the United States who were evacuated from Israel.
According to Chief Rabbi of Cyprus, Ari Zev Raskin, around 6,500 Israelis are currently in Cyprus after their flights were redirected to the eastern Mediterranean island, which is the closest European nation to Israel or they willingly traveled there in hopes of catching a flight or maritime route back home.
Cyprus has emerged as a crucial transit point for the evacuation of third-country nationals fleeing conflict zones in the region, as well as Israelis and others looking to return to their countries in light of the absence of direct flights.
The Situation at Home
Meanwhile, conditions within Israel are even more dire, with 5,110 individuals now categorized as displaced as a result of Iranian attacks. Thousands have faced homelessness over the past week due to missile strikes from Iran, which have resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.
The publication reported that casualties occurred due to direct hits in areas such as Rishon LeZion, Petah Tikva, Bnei Brak, Bat Yam, Ramat Gan, and Haifa.
It has been learned that the Israeli Interior Ministry classified 5,110 individuals as displaced due to the attacks, including 955 in Ramat Gan, 945 in Petah Tikva, 907 in Tel Aviv, 812 in Bat Yam, 550 in Bnei Brak, and 368 in Rehovot.
Hospital Reductions
The Palestinian news agency Ma’an reported from the Israeli Ministry of Health that hospitals nationwide have started preparing for the discharge of mothers and infants within 12 hours post-delivery, in light of the escalating situation.
Following the ministry’s directives, hospitals are advised to minimize patient stays as much as possible. This decision was made after the security situation worsened and following an Iranian missile attack near the intelligence headquarters close to Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva.