Tourist crisis in Israel: Ticket prices skyrocket, escape by yacht begins

The escalating tension in the region following Israel's comprehensive attacks on Iran on June 13 has left thousands of foreign tourists stranded in Israel. The closure of the airspace has made departures from the country nearly impossible, leading desperate tourists to turn to sea routes.

According to the Israel-based newspaper Haaretz, crowds have formed at the Herzliya Marina near Tel Aviv, seeking to cross into the Republic of Cyprus by yacht. These groups include not only tourists who came for vacation but also Israeli citizens wishing to reunite with their families abroad.

While it is reported that approximately 40,000 foreign tourists are stranded in Israel, some have found a way to reach the Republic of Cyprus via small yachts from coastal cities such as Haifa, Ashkelon, and Herzliya. However, these journeys are taking place with both limited capacity and very high costs. These sea voyages, conducted in groups of at most ten people, are being organized through social media platforms, particularly Facebook groups. Due to the increasing demand, ticket prices have effectively skyrocketed. In some crossings, fees reach several thousand euros.

A previous report by Haaretz shared a striking detail: it was alleged that the Israeli government instructed local airlines not to allow citizens wishing to leave the country to use the planes arranged to bring back Israelis stranded abroad.

During Israel's attacks on Iran, the Tehran administration's nuclear facilities and military bases were targeted. In the attacks, the Iranian Chief of General Staff, the Commander of the Revolutionary Guards, and numerous high-ranking officers, along with nine nuclear scientists, lost their lives. Iran responded to this attack by targeting Israeli territory with ballistic missiles; at least 24 people lost their lives and more than 500 were injured in the counter-attacks.

These developments, which have dragged the Middle East back into a ring of fire, have deeply affected not only the two countries but also civilians and foreigners in the region. Many countries, led by Turkey, condemned Israel's attacks and called for an immediate end to the conflicts.

News Source: AA