(Hai Fa) – In light of the war, thousands of Israelis are reporting that they are unable to return to Israel due to the closure of the skies to civilian flights. At the same time, the National Security Headquarters is issuing a severe warning regarding returning to Israel via the airports of Amman and Sharm el-Sheikh.
The Ministries of Transportation and Foreign Affairs have issued a joint statement following recent developments in the security situation. According to the statement, and in accordance with the instructions of security officials, the skies of the State of Israel have been closed to civil aviation - there are no outgoing flights and no incoming flights - until further notice. Upon receipt of approval from the security establishment to open the airspace, the Ministry of Transportation will update on the date of resumption of flights, in coordination with the airlines operating on routes to and from Israel.
Meanwhile, Israeli citizens who found themselves "stuck" in various countries began to try and find creative solutions to return home, including through airports in neighboring countries such as Jordan (Amman) and Egypt (Sharm el-Sheikh). As a result, the National Security Headquarters issued a severe warning today, 15/6/25, calling for avoiding using these routes, due to extremely high levels of risk.
According to the announcement, arrival in Israel via the airports in Amman and Sharm el-Sheikh should be avoided, due to the "real danger to human life during a period of high security tension." The National Security Council emphasizes that travel warnings to Jordan, Egypt, and especially Sinai are at the highest risk level, "Level 4 - concrete danger," and that non-essential travel there should not be made, and certainly not used as part of a return route to Israel.
Appeals to the state and airlines
Due to the sensitive situation and uncertainty, dozens of Israelis have contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Transportation requesting immediate assistance in returning to Israel. Many of them claim that the response they have received from the state and the airlines is unsatisfactory.
National Security Headquarters (NSH): "The situation requires maximum vigilance"
The National Security Headquarters stated that "in light of the security incidents and ongoing tensions, we call on Israeli citizens to be vigilant, follow official reports only, and avoid traveling or staying in areas for which there is a severe travel warning. Any attempt to use alternative routes through hostile or partially hostile countries involves real risk."
The Director General of the Ministry of Transportation, Moshe Ben Zaken, was interviewed on the morning program (Sunday, June 15.6.25, XNUMX) on Galei Tzahal and said that Israel's airspace is closed in accordance with the security establishment's directives. The top priority is protecting the lives of passengers. No one wants to see a plane full of passengers and fuel hit by shrapnel or in a more significant way. "There is a systematic plan for returning Israelis to Israel, which was built in advance under the leadership of Minister of Transportation Miri Regev, and we are immediately prepared to operate rescue flights as soon as we receive the security green light."
He added: "The sea route is open, but a concentration of hundreds of people at docks like the Haifa or Ashdod ports near strategic facilities is a risk. Just as Ben-Gurion is threatened, the ports are also threatened. We are examining exceptions, only in coordination with the Home Front Command. To this end, the Minister of Transportation is in ongoing discussions with the Israel Defense Forces, the Shipping Authority, and the Home Front Command, and is examining rescue plans that will be launched as soon as security permits."