Regev: Outbound Flights to Begin Monday for Those Stranded in Israel

Transportation Minister Miri Regev announced that Israel will begin operating outbound flights starting Monday to help tourists, diplomats, and Israelis leave the country. The flights will be permitted based on decisions by a government-led exceptions committee.

According to Regev, the committee will prioritize tourists, foreign diplomats, youth and sports delegations, and individuals with urgent medical or humanitarian needs — all of whom have had limited options to exit the country since the conflict with Iran erupted last Friday.

“At the bottom line of the priority list will be Israelis who want to leave the country because they want to go on holidays, as our focus is first to bring back the 100,000 Israelis who are abroad,” Regev said. “The exceptions committee will also examine approvals subject to urgent humanitarian and medical needs of passengers.”

Until now, the government’s airlift initiative, launched on Wednesday, has concentrated on gradually flying Israelis back home. Outbound air travel had been suspended for both foreigners and Israeli citizens to reduce congestion and limit the time planes remain on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport — a frequent target of missile strikes. These restrictions were also in line with Home Front Command security guidelines.