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Today Global shows the first rescue cruise ship arriving at the Port of Ashdod on Friday morning amidst rising tensions between Israel and Iran. The luxurious Crown Iris, operated by Mano Shipping, successfully brought back around 2,000 Israelis who found themselves stranded in Limassol after Israeli airspace was closed.
This sea-based evacuation marks the start of Operation Safe Return, a national initiative led by Israel's Ministry of Transportation aimed at repatriating citizens stuck abroad. The operation was a collaborative effort involving the Shipping and Ports Authority, the Home Front Command, and private shipping companies.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev, who greeted the returnees at the port, emphasized that the government is dedicated to ensuring the safe return of all Israelis, using every available resource. The Crown Iris made its way from Limassol, a vital transit point in the eastern Mediterranean, located about 270 kilometers from Israel. Notably, the cruise liner had previously docked in Limassol to drop off hundreds of Jewish emigrants from the U.S. who had been evacuated from Israel.
After dropping off these passengers, the ship picked up stranded Israelis as flights were grounded. Cyprus has become an essential evacuation and transit hub, not only for Israelis but also for third-country nationals fleeing the area, especially given the unavailability of flight routes. According to Cyprus Chief Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin, around 6,500 Israelis were in Cyprus, some having diverted there mid-journey while others sought to return home.
Among the returnees was David Agami, who had traveled from the U.S. and aimed to reach his home in Beit Shemesh after getting stuck in Cyprus. He expressed his desire to return not just to be with his wife and six children but also to contribute to his country, even if it involved risks. Many Israelis, he believes, share a sense of duty during challenging times.
Another couple on board, Ben and Liat Fox—medical professionals from central Israel—were eager to return home. After attending medical conferences in Germany and Sweden, they were mainly focused on reuniting with their three daughters in Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut and being available to assist with national security as doctors. They voiced their concerns regarding a recent missile strike on Soroka Hospital in the Beersheba area that reportedly injured at least 40 people.
Hanit Azulay, a resident of Haifa, was also among those returning. Despite missile threats, she mentioned she wasn't afraid of going back home, as her daughter and family were already in Israel. Like many others, she had grown accustomed to the risks over time.
To facilitate the return journey from Ashdod Port, the Ministry of Transport arranged about 50 buses and minibuses to transport passengers free of charge to various destinations, including the Ashdod train station, Beersheba, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem. Transport Ministry Director General Moshe Ben Zaken highlighted that while this was the first sea evacuation, it wouldn’t be the last, with more ships expected to bring additional passengers back to Israel in the coming days.
He described the coordination of the operation as a complex logistical challenge that involved full cooperation among numerous government and private entities. The Port of Ashdod had prepared extensively for the arrival of the Crown Iris, implementing strict security measures and streamlined passenger processing methods as advised by the Home Front Command.
Port personnel worked under the looming threat of sirens and missile alerts, continuing their duties to keep the economy running and support repatriation efforts. Ashdod Port CEO Nissan Levi praised the commitment of port staff, stating their work amidst such danger exemplifies the resilient Israeli spirit.
The Ministry of Transport confirmed that the maritime corridor remains open and secure, although any future sea evacuations will proceed only with safety approvals to ensure traveler security.
References: Times of Israel, i24news
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