Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport Closed “Until Further Notice”

As part of Israel’s ongoing wartime response, the Home Front Command has placed the entire country under “essential-only” operations, leading to the cancellation of all outgoing and incoming commercial flights — and leaving tens of thousands of Israelis stranded abroad with no clear return date.

The emergency measures, which began early Friday at 3:00 a.m., will remain in effect at least until Sunday at 8:00 p.m., with a likely extension depending on the security situation.

Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport remained closed to all arrivals and departures and was to remain so “until further notice,” officials said Friday, as Israel carried out waves of strikes against Iran and its nuclear program.

Meanwhile, Israel’s three major airlines moved their fleets out of the country to prevent them from being targeted in an Iranian attack.

Speaking in a televised interview on Motzei Shabbos, Shmuel Zakai, Director of Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority, warned that it could take “weeks — not days or hours” for normal flight operations to resume. “It’s a shame to create illusions,” he said.

According to Zakai, Israeli airlines had already moved their entire fleets out of the country ahead of the conflict in a well-coordinated and confidential operation. The planes are now positioned at international airports near clusters of Israeli travelers, ready to return when the security assessment allows.

However, Zakai emphasized that airport operations will not resume at full capacity immediately. “It will be slow, in stages, and it may even stop again depending on developments. The priority is protecting lives — both of passengers and crews.”

With approximately 50,000 Israeli citizens currently stuck overseas, government officials are exploring alternate means of transportation. In previous conflicts, Israelis were directed to reach Larnaca or Athens for repatriation flights, but no such guidance has yet been issued in the current situation.

“All of this was planned in advance,” Zakai reiterated. “But we could not make an announcement beforehand — the lives of our pilots were and still are at risk.”

Meanwhile, back home, the country has come to a standstill under emergency orders. All educational institutions — from daycares and schools to universities and summer camps — are closed. Youth sports and programs have also been suspended nationwide.

As the situation continues to evolve, officials urge patience and cooperation with all emergency directives.

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