Birthright Israel has successfully evacuated 1,500 program participants stranded in Israel, transporting them to safety aboard a luxury cruise ship to Larnaca, Cyprus, the organization announced.
The evacuation operation utilized a 13-hour cruise from Ashdod port, with the vessel escorted by the Israeli Navy for security protection. The luxury cruise ship, operated by Mano Maritime, carried participants who had been unable to leave Israel through regular commercial flights.
From Cyprus, American participants will board four wide-body aircraft chartered by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for transport to Tampa, Florida, according to a statement released by Birthright Israel. Once participants arrive in Tampa, they will be able to continue their journeys to their respective hometowns across the United States.
Birthright Israel, which sponsors free 10-day educational trips to Israel for Jewish young adults aged 18-32, organized the emergency evacuation as commercial flight options became limited. The program, founded in 1999, has brought over 800,000 participants to Israel since its inception.
