Israel’s “Safe Return” framework for outbound travel officially went into effect on Tuesday, enabling Israeli citizens and tourists to leave the country by air, land, or sea amid the fluctuating tensions due to the Israel-Iran conflict.
Under the structure, approved Israeli airlines—El Al, Arkia, Israir and Air Haifa—are permitted to operate flights with a strict passenger limit of 50 per flight, aimed at reducing congestion and exposure at Ben Gurion Airport.
Departing travelers must arrive at Terminal 3 via Gate 2 and are advised to arrive no earlier than two hours before departure. Security checks and check-in are conducted on the ground floor, with transfers to Floor 3 for boarding.
Sea departures are also possible, with ticket purchases arranged directly through shipping companies.
Land crossings into Jordan and Egypt remain another option, including the Taba, Jordan River and Yitzhak Rabin crossings. The Allenby Bridge (King Hussein) crossing, which links Jordan to nearby Jericho, is open only to non-Israeli passport holders.
Travelers who make their way to either of Israel’s neighbors can then continue with their outbound international flights.
Meanwhile, the United States has also begun facilitating voluntary evacuations.
On Saturday, two U.S.-organized flights evacuated roughly 70 American citizens and legal residents to Athens.
The operation, dubbed “Exodus,” came just before U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear targets. On Friday, Washington evacuated 79 embassy staff and family members to Bulgaria.
According to the Associated Press, 6,400 people signed up for information on U.S. evacuation assistance in a single day.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem continues to advise Americans to enroll in the State Department’s STEP program and seek independent routes out of Israel if possible.
