Long lines at Israel’s land border crossings ahead of Passover amid strict flight caps

Sharon Wrobel is a tech reporter for The Times of Israel

Israelis wait in line to pass through Taba land border crossing with Egypt, near the southern city of Eilat, March 25, 2026. (Social media, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
Israelis wait in line to pass through Taba land border crossing with Egypt, near the southern city of Eilat, March 25, 2026. (Social media, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Thousands of Israelis are facing long queues at land border crossings with Egypt and Jordan, as severe restrictions on the country’s airspace are limiting departures via Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.

As of 4 p.m. on Thursday, a total of 5,055 Israelis left the country passing through land border crossings with Egypt and Jordan, to travel overseas, according to data by the Population and Immigration Authority. Only 1,133 Israelis departed the country via air travel.

In a blow to travelers ahead of Passover, starting next week, Israel on Monday imposed further restrictions on flight operations currently served solely by Israeli airlines from Ben Gurion, the country’s main international gateway.

Since the closure of Israel’s airspace to most commercial civilian air traffic on February 28, a total of 72,184 Israelis left the country via land border crossings and 57,121 via air travel, according to data by the Population and Immigration Authority.

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