Repatriate flights to restart for Israelis stranded in UAE after agreement between Netanyahu, bin Zayed

Transportation Minister Miri Regev says Israel is resuming a plan to fly home thousands of Israelis stranded in the United Arab Emirates after efforts were paused following the closure of airports in the Gulf country due to Iranian missile and drone attacks.

At the request of Regev, the statement says, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed to implement a plan to operate repatriation flights for Israelis stranded mainly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Special repatriation flights will be operated in cooperation with Emirati airlines to Israel and other countries, the ministry says. Passengers who want to be placed on these flights need to register via this link: https://safereturn.mot.gov.il/

“Together we will succeed in bringing everyone home,” Regev says.

The operation comes against the backdrop of the war in Iran, which has seen Tehran fire missiles and drones at Israel, the UAE and other countries in the region.

“The operation will be carried out subject to changing security developments and approvals by security authorities,” the Transportation Ministry says.

Israel was forced yesterday to pause an effort to repatriate some 4,000 citizens still stranded in the UAE after Dubai International Airport was hit in an Iranian strike, Hebrew media reported.