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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Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, gave an exclusive briefing to Leyla Rahimli, AnewZ TV’s correspondent stationed in Kilis.
Afghanistan’s Taliban administration has signed a $10 billion deal with Azizi Energy to generate 10,000 megawatts of electricity, aiming for self‑sufficiency in power within a decade.
Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov, spoke to journalists at the ceremony marking the launch of natural gas transit from Azerbaijan to Syria via Türkiye.
Kazakhstan has sent an official proposal to the United States seeking fairer trade terms after new U.S. tariffs on some Kazakh exports took effect, its Trade and Integration Ministry said.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
Kazakhstan has sent an official proposal to the United States seeking fairer trade terms after new U.S. tariffs on some Kazakh exports took effect, its Trade and Integration Ministry said.
Jordan’s armed forces said they killed two armed people during a foiled infiltration attempt from Syria on Friday, pushing the rest of the group back across the border.
Ukraine’s military says it struck an oil refinery, storage facility and military airfield inside Russia, in one of its largest cross-border drone operations since the war began.
Armenia and the United States will conduct joint military exercises in Armenia from 12 to 20 August, focusing on peacekeeping and medical evacuation tasks, the Armenian Defence Ministry said.
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