Thousands of tourists in Israel find themselves stranded as the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has forced flight cancellations and city lockdowns, turning short vacations into uncertain, prolonged stays.
Since Israel’s strike on Iranian nuclear facilities on Friday, life in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv has come to a halt, leaving approximately 40,000 tourists stranded due to closed airspace and cancelled flights.
What began as brief visits has extended into indefinite stays, with many travelers seeking alternative exit routes through neighboring countries like Jordan. The once-bustling streets of Jerusalem are now deserted, and key sites like the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Western Wall are under strict restrictions.
Justin Joyner is a tourist from the U.S. and he said that it's a worrying time.
"A very new experience for me personally, being American, and it is scary to hear, you know, missiles being intercepted, to feel the concussive blast, even though it's up in the sky," Joyner said.
"And to have to take your son and your father and go down to a bomb shelter which is just something you don't even have to consider in America, at least not since the 60s, so it makes me feel uneasy and very anxious to get back home," he added.
Meanwhile his relative, John Joyner said that they're looking for alternative places to stay. "We are looking for (something with) kitchenettes, some place to kind of reduce some of our expenses."
He added that they're also looking at a different place to fly from.
"Flight schedules, perhaps out of Jordan, if possible, and because it may be a while before Israeli airports open up."
Israel’s Tourism Ministry has set up a 24/7 virtual help desk to assist stranded foreigners, but uncertainty remains for those far from home.
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France and Britain will chair a meeting on Friday (17 April) of around 40 countries aimed at signalling to the United States that some of its closest allies are ready to play a role in restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz once conditions allow.
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 April), warning European countries against plans to step up UAV supplies to Kyiv.
The U.S. House of Representatives has narrowly voted to block an effort to rein in Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran.
Georgia’s parliament has approved fast-tracked amendments to the Law on Grants, introducing new exemptions and expanding the state’s role in defining and overseeing foreign funding.
Dubai’s most iconic hotel, the Burj Al Arab, is set to close for the first time since opening in 1999 as it begins an extensive 18-month refurbishment aimed at preserving its status as a global symbol of luxury.
Azerbaijan and Russia have announced a formal settlement over the 2024 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Embraer 190 near Aktau, confirming that all outstanding issues, including compensation, have been resolved.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that there was a "good chance" of a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel happening soon, after he announced a 10-day ceasefire between the two countries.
Türkiye is reeling after a second school shooting in as many days, after a 14-year-old student killed nine people - eight pupils and one teacher - and wounded 13 others at a middle school in the south-eastern province of Kahramanmaraş on Wednesday, officials said.
North Korea is making “very serious” advances in its nuclear weapons capabilities, with signs of a new uranium enrichment facility and increased activity at a key complex, the International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi has said.
The U.S. House of Representatives has narrowly voted to block an effort to rein in Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran.
RRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Beijing is placing China’s diplomacy under closer scrutiny, as it balances its partnership with Moscow against strained relations with the U.S.
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 April), warning European countries against plans to step up UAV supplies to Kyiv.
Britain and France will co-host virtual talks on Friday (17 April) to ease tensions and restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Cameroon on Wednesday to an outpouring of joy, marking the start of an emotional visit for the country’s Catholic faithful.
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