(haipo) – Sea rescue of Israelis stranded abroad, during the Israel-Iran war. Minister of Transportation Miri Regev agreed with Moshe Mano on two rescue voyages by Mano Shipping's cruise ship.
Amid the ongoing fighting between Israel and Iran, thousands of Israelis, including many from Haifa and the north, find themselves stranded outside the country's borders. Some have traveled on vacations or routine business trips, and have found themselves in an unprecedented security situation and ongoing uncertainty: without a return flight ticket, without access to money, and sometimes without communication with their relatives in Israel.
Meanwhile, on Sunday (15/6/25), a conversation took place between the Minister of Transportation and Society in the Political-Security Cabinet, Brigadier General (res.) Miri Regev, and businessman Moshe Mano, owner of the veteran shipping company "Mano Shipping". During the conversation, it was agreed to operate a special sea line for the rescue and return of Israelis home, via Cyprus.
In the first phase, the company will operate two consecutive cruises that will allow stranded Israelis to return to Israel safely. The cruises will depart from Cyprus and will ferry passengers directly to Israel. This is an initial initiative that may expand depending on needs and the scope of demand. Minister of Transportation Regev congratulated Mano for his quick response and commitment to the move.
Since the start of the operation, many reports have been received of citizens who found themselves cut off from aid systems, coping alone with economic, medical or emotional distress, sometimes while far from their children, spouses, elderly parents or the animals they left behind.
Some tried to return through neighboring countries such as Jordan or Egypt, but the National Security Headquarters (NSH) issued a warning not to return through Jordan or Sharm el-Sheikh. The "Mano Shipping" company, which is considered a major player in the shipping sector in Israel, is now, for the first time, volunteering for civilian security assistance in this format. At the same time, the Ministry of Transportation continues to examine additional transportation channels for the repatriation of Israelis from all over the world.
The company "Manu Shipping" informed "Hai Pa" that the luxury ship Crown Iris will make two rescue voyages from Cyprus to Israel, in accordance with an agreement between the company's chairman, Moshe Mano, and the Minister of Transportation, Miri Regev, and with the approval of the Home Front Command. The voyages will depart from the port of Limassol, with registration being carried out exclusively through the company's website.
In accordance with the Ministry of Transportation's guidelines, only foreign citizens will be allowed to board the ship on its route from Israel to Cyprus, while in the opposite direction only Israeli passengers will be allowed to board. The ship will dock in Limassol for several hours to absorb the passengers, and the voyage to Israel is expected to last approximately 15 hours.
The company emphasizes that, taking into account the national situation, the cruise prices have been set on a subsidized cost basis that does not reflect actual expenses – which include special arrangements for passport control, security and additional logistical expenses. Prices will range from 399 to 650 euros per passenger, depending on the room level.
400-700 euros per person for the rescue. People are crying that it's expensive and Moshe Mano claims that he's even subsidizing the rescue out of his own pocket because there are additional security costs and port taxes. On social media, there's a sharp debate about whether this is extortion or philanthropy? People go on vacation during a war, and it comes at a price that everyone knows they might pay when airlines and Ben Gurion Airport close and they're "stuck" abroad. That's the price. You wanted to go out and show off your bikini muscles and "how much fun we're having" at resorts in Greece. You paid hundreds of euros a day for hotels and flights, so now you're whining about paying 700 euros for a cruise? After all, that's also the price of a long flight, just like the cruise time.
They want to return to a bombed country with the risk of a nuclear bomb? I want to leave the country urgently!!
You are welcome to run away, and with you all the cowards who told us about a "new Middle East" and created Hamastan, Hezbollahstan, and Ashfaqstan for us here like a chokehold around us.
All the leftist, bitter, hypocritical sycophants who harmed Israel's security with the Oslo disaster, go ahead and run away to Portugal. You'll do damage there.
Why Meno?
There are probably many ships in the world that can be rented…
We only have one ship…
In our country, everything is a monopoly, Elal, Tnuva, these are the options, in shipping it is a monopoly
There were 5-7 flights from Cyprus to Aqaba by TUS.
No monopoly