Passengers who had left Israel on Tuesday aboard the Crown Iris cruise ship board a bus after arriving at the port of Larnaca, Cyprus, on June 18, 2025. (Credit: Yiannis Kourtoglou/Reuters)
The Herzliya Marina (North of Tel Aviv) has taken on the "atmosphere of a makeshift terminal," according to an article published in Haaretz on June 17. Starting at seven a.m., at least a hundred passengers flocked to the harbor in search of a yacht that would allow them to flee to Cyprus. Since Friday, Israel has closed its airspace to civilian aviation while the war between Tel Aviv and Tehran rages.
Facebook groups dedicated to sea departures "show that hundreds of people are now trying to leave Israel this way," whether in Herzliya or in other marinas like Haifa or Ashkelon, explained Haaretz.
The left-wing Israeli daily reported that "owners of small yachts are organizing trips with groups of more than ten passengers," but the Population and Immigration Authority "has not yet been able to assess the scale of the phenomenon."
On the night of June 12 to 13, the Israeli army launched unprecedented strikes against Iran, accusing it of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons — a claim Tehran denies. The Israeli strikes on Iran targeted nuclear and military sites, decapitated the senior military command, and killed at least 585 people, including civilians and scientists. On the Israeli side, at least 24 people were killed by salvos of ballistic missiles Iran fired at Israel in response.
Most of the people interviewed for the Haaretz article said they do not live in Israel and are trying to return home. "Others say they're heading abroad to join their children or partners. Only a few admit to fleeing the threat of Iranian missile attacks. None are willing to speak openly to reporters." One of the passengers indicated that he was making a one-way trip at the request of his Israeli partner: "I'm moving to Portugal," he told Haaretz.
Travelers report having paid 2,500 shekels (more than $700), saying they were offered even higher rates. "Someone asked me for 6,000," recounted a passenger. Prices vary depending on the type of yacht.
One captain argued that 'not all vessels are operating legally: some private owners are charging passengers without having proper insurance for transportation of people."
On Wednesday morning, more than 1,500 foreign nationals — mostly Americans, but also Canadians, Argentinians and Australians — sailed aboard the luxury ship Crown Iris, traveling from Haifa to the port of Larnaca, according to Philenews. It indicated that this ship is making four trips between Cyprus and Israel to repatriate Israelis trapped outside their country.
Cyprus under pressure
According to another article from the same outlet published on June 16, Cyprus is experiencing "side effects" from the conflict between Iran and Israel. The unplanned stay of hundreds of Israelis in Cyprus — in addition to the 2,400 people initially planned — has caused increased needs for additional security measures by the Police, while also worrying the tourism services sector, which for some is characterized as a positive side effect," it reported.
Accommodation problems started on Friday afternoon due to the presence of many Israeli citizens on the island. Quoting an article from Israel Hayom, the Cypriot newspaper indicated that around 2,400 Israelis who arrived in Cyprus were stranded on the island due to the closure of Israeli airspace. "Hundreds of them are expected to return to Israel in the coming days." The first repatriation flight from the island was organized on Wednesday morning.
Furthermore, Israel Hayom reported on June 17 that Birthright Israel (a program that offers young Jews worldwide a free trip to Israel) evacuated 1,500 participants stranded in Israel. They transported these travelers "safely aboard a luxury cruise ship to Larnaca," according to the organization. The ship, departing from the Port of Ashdod, was escorted by the Israeli navy.
In an article published the next day, Israel Hayom reported that the Israeli government ordered national airlines not to allow Israeli citizens to leave the country aboard the planes intended for the repatriation of Israelis stranded abroad. The Israeli decision reportedly stemmed from security concerns about overcrowding at Ben Gurion airport.
During the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, hundreds of people chose to leave Lebanon aboard luxury yachts bound for Cyprus, at fares priced between $1,400 and $2,300.