Thousands of tourists from Israel have seen their travel plans disrupted after the conflict with Iran erupted. While some tourists are desperately trying to leave through Jordan, others choose to stay despite the escalating conflict.
Approximately 40,000 tourists are currently stranded in Israel, as stated by the Ministry of Tourism of this country.
Many airlines have canceled flights, forcing passengers to either wait or take costly detours through neighboring countries, reports Economic Times.
For example, TAROM extends the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv until June 23, inclusive, including the return on June 24, Tel Aviv-Bucharest.
Unthinkable for Americans
Justin Joyner, a tourist from California, is visiting Jerusalem with his father and son. He told Reuters that they were prepared for some issues due to the ongoing conflict with Hamas, but they did not expect a war with Iran.
"We did not expect Israel to attack Iran. It's a completely different level of escalation," Joyner said from his hotel in East Jerusalem, where they saw Iranian rockets passing over them at night.
"It's disturbing to feel the shockwaves of intercepted rockets above you and to take your family to an air raid shelter. It's something that we simply don't think about in America," he added.
Dr. Greer Glazer from Cleveland, USA, is in Jerusalem for a healthcare training program. She stated that she has to run down 10 flights of stairs to reach a shelter when the sirens go off.
"I feel safe," she said. "But waking up from a deep sleep and running to a shelter, that was the hardest part. My family is scared to death... They think there is non-stop destruction here, but it's not like that."
Exiting through Jordan
Dr. Glazer had planned to return home on June 29, but now she is trying to leave earlier. The easiest way out is through the land borders with Jordan and then with a flight from Amman, where the airport is still operational during the day.
Reuters also reported that American star Caitlyn Jenner, who had flown in for the Tel Aviv Pride Parade, which was subsequently canceled, left Israel through Jordan. A few hours earlier, she posted a photo of herself drinking wine in an air raid shelter. "What an incredible way to celebrate Shabbat," Jenner wrote.
Some Prefer to Stay Amid the War
However, not everyone is seeking to leave Israel immediately.
Karen Tuhrim, who came from London to visit her daughter in Tel Aviv, told Reuters: "Two days after I arrived here, Israel attacked Iran. So now I'm stuck."
She said that Tel Aviv was directly hit by Iranian rockets but she still felt safer in Israel: "Personally, at this moment, I feel better here than in London, watching everything on the news, knowing that my daughter is here. So, for now, we are okay."
The Israeli Ministry of Tourism has opened a round-the-clock assistance office, available in English and Hebrew, to help stranded tourists.
However, the situation remains tense. All museums are closed, the Old City of Jerusalem is closed to foreigners, and many shops remain shut.
"The streets and shops are empty," said Anwar Abu Lafi, a local resident, to Reuters. "People long for a break, to find something good in this existing darkness. We deceive ourselves believing that the future will be better," he added.
The conflict between Israel and Iran has entered its fourth day of direct fighting, marked by reciprocal bombings and increasing regional tension. Israel has targeted several Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, while Iranian rockets have hit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and other cities.
So far, over 220 people have been killed in Iran, mostly civilians, according to Iranian authorities. In Israel, the death toll has reached 24 with over 90 injured.
T.D.