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Ben Gurion Airport Returns to Full Operation as Travel Restrictions Lifted

Israel’s main international gateway, Ben Gurion Airport, is returning to full operations after the Home Front Command lifted all wartime travel restrictions, the Israel Airports Authority announced Tuesday. Effective immediately, limitations on the number of incoming and outgoing flights, as well as passenger capacity per flight, have been removed. In addition, entry restrictions for travelers and accompanying individuals at airport terminals have been fully lifted. “The restrictions on the number of incoming and outgoing flights, as well as the number of passengers on each flight, have been lifted,” the Airports Authority said in a statement. “In addition, restrictions on the arrival of passengers and accompanying persons at the airports have been lifted.” Duty-free shops at Ben Gurion and other airports are set to reopen beginning Wednesday morning, operating under updated security and regulatory protocols. The Airports Authority urged travelers to stay informed by checking with their airlines for the latest flight schedule updates. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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Ben Gurion Airport To Gradually Resume Full Operations

The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) on Tuesday began preparing to gradually resume full operations at Ben Gurion Airport following Israel’s confirmation of a ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday morning. Despite the fact that Iran violated the ceasefire several hours after it was announced, Israeli airspace remained open, and planes near the airport were ordered to circle in the air until the incident was over. The IAA held a situational assessment on the resumption of operations on Tuesday with senior defense officials and the Israel Civil Aviation Authority. There are still tens of thousands of Israelis stranded abroad, although according to data released by the Population and Immigration Authority on Tuesday morning, 95,441 Israelis have returned to Israel since the beginning of the war: 52,554 via land crossings, 8,386 via sea, and 34,501 by air. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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TODAY: Delta Resumes Daily Ben Gurion-JFK Flights, After Missile Strike Halted Service

  Delta Air Lines is set to restart daily flights between Ben Gurion Airport and JFK Airport starting today, May 20, 2025. On May 4, Delta halted all flights to Tel Aviv after a ballistic missile from Yemen struck Ben Gurion Airport. The decision follows “an exhaustive security assessment,” with Delta stating it will “continue closely monitoring the situation in the region in close coordination with government officials and other stakeholders.” The airline’s return comes as other carriers, like United Airlines, also plan to resume US-Tel Aviv routes in June, signaling cautious optimism despite persistent regional instability.

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El Al Rakes In $69 Million As Yidden Were Stranded Across The Globe Following Houthi Attack On Ben Gurion

In the aftermath of a Houthi missile landing dangerously close to the runways of Ben Gurion Airport, thousands of Yidden were left stranded across the globe — some en route to Eretz Yisroel, others stuck abroad with their return flights suddenly canceled. As fear and confusion rippled through the Jewish world, a different scene was unfolding on the Israeli stock exchange. With most foreign airlines immediately halting operations to and from Israel due to security concerns, Israeli carriers El Al and Israir became nearly the sole providers still flying. The result: their share prices soared, and their owners saw massive financial gains. According to The Marker, Kenny Rosenberg, a frum businessman from the U.S. who holds the majority stake in El Al, earned a staggering NIS 250 million ($69 million) in just two days, following a 10% jump in El Al’s stock. At the same time, Rami Levy, a well-known Israeli entrepreneur and majority owner of Israir, saw his holdings rise by NIS 15 million ($4 million) after a 7% increase in the airline’s stock. This windfall came amid widespread cancellations by international carriers, including major European and American airlines, who suspended flights until further notice. With few alternatives left, demand for seats on El Al and Israir surged, leading to a significant increase in bookings — and a parallel spike in stock value. Meanwhile, thousands of Yidden remain stuck in airports and hotels around the world, uncertain when they will be able to return to Eretz Hakodesh. The situation has sparked frustration and deep concern among families hoping to reunite with loved ones or return home before Shabbos. El Al and Israir have continued operating flights to key destinations in Europe and the U.S., providing a lifeline for those seeking a way back. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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Israeli Jets Unleash Fury On Houthi Strongholds In Yemen After Missile Strikes Ben Gurion Airport [VIDEOS]

The Israeli Air Force launched a blistering assault on Houthi-controlled targets in Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah on Monday evening, retaliating for a brazen ballistic missile attack by the Iran-backed terror group that struck Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv just a day earlier, leaving six injured and international airlines scrambling to suspend flights. Under the cover of darkness, approximately 20 IAF fighter jets roared 2,000 kilometers across the skies, hammering Houthi infrastructure with surgical precision. The strikes zeroed in on the strategic Hodeidah port and a concrete factory near Bajil, unleashing 50 munitions in a thunderous display of military might. Refuelers and spy planes supported the operation, ensuring its success, as images released by the military captured the jets poised for action on the tarmac. The IDF noted the Hodeidah port is a critical hub for the “transfer of Iranian weapons” and other terror-related equipment, while the Bajil factory was exposed as a linchpin in the Houthi economy, allegedly used to construct tunnels and military infrastructure. “These strikes deliver a crippling blow to the Houthi terror regime’s economic and military ambitions,” the IDF said, underscoring the operation’s intent to choke the group’s resources. The assault marked Israel’s sixth strike in Yemen since the onset of the war and the first since January, shattering a period of restraint following a U.S.-led aerial campaign against the Houthis. Israeli officials confirmed coordination with the United States but emphasized the operation was solely their own. The terror group, whose chilling mantra calls for “Death to America, Death to Israel, and a Curse on the Jews,” had fired a missile on Sunday that carved a gaping crater near Ben Gurion’s Terminal 3, rattling nerves and disrupting global air travel. Footage revealed a massive inferno engulfing the Bajil factory, while images from Israel’s Defense Ministry showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir orchestrating the operation from the IAF’s underground command center in Tel Aviv. Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, the IAF chief, commanded the strikes from a nearby post. The Houthis claimed their airport attack deployed a “hypersonic ballistic missile,” a boast swiftly debunked by the IDF, which clarified that neither the Houthis nor their Iranian patrons possess such advanced weaponry. The group vowed to impose a “comprehensive air blockade” on Israel, targeting Ben Gurion and other airports—a threat experts deem unlikely given Israel’s robust missile defense systems. Nonetheless, the Houthis’ audacity has kept Israelis on edge, with air raid sirens driving hundreds of thousands into shelters amid fears of incoming missiles and falling debris. Hours before Israel’s strikes, U.S. forces reportedly pounded Houthi targets near Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, wounding 16, according to the rebels’ Health Ministry. The Houthi-run Saba news agency decried the attacks as “American aggression,” while Al-Masirah TV reported additional strikes in Sanaa and Al-Jawf. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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Two Yeshivah Bochurim Arrested at Ben Gurion Over Draft Evasion

Two yeshivah bochurim were arrested on Sunday morning at Ben Gurion Airport due to their failure to report to IDF recruitment centers. The bochurim were transferred to the Dan camp in Tel HaShomer for a hearing on the matter. The L’ma’ancha organization, which assists bnei yeshivoos with draft issues, intervened in the matter, and after several hours, the bochurim were released.

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Two Yeshivah Bochurim Arrested At Ben Gurion Airport For Failure To Respond To IDF Summons

Two yeshivah bochurim were arrested on Sunday morning at Ben Gurion Airport due to their failure to report to IDF recruitment centers. The bochurim were transferred to the Dan camp in Tel HaShomer for a hearing on the matter. The L’ma’ancha organization, which assists bnei yeshivoos with draft issues, intervened in the matter, and after several hours, the bochurim were released. Four bnei yeshivos were previously arrested in recent weeks, three at Ben Gurion Airport, and the fourth at a traffic court, where he had arrived for a hearing on a traffic violation. All four were released with the assistance of the L’ma’ancha organization, which hired a lawyer for them. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated on Isru Chag in Israel)

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UPDATE: Strike CANCELLED At Ben Gurion Airport On Sunday

The strike planned for Sunday at Ben Gurion Airport has been canceled. The Population and Immigration Authority announced that it has reached agreements regarding the workers’ salaries, and there will be no strike at Ben Gurion Airport. The strike, originally scheduled from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., would have caused significant flight delays and cancellations, just as flights are beginning to return to normal, and airlines have resumed their flights to Israel. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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Yeshiva Bochur Arrested At Ben Gurion Airport For Evading Draft, Released After Legal Intervention

Israeli authorities arrested a young bochur at Ben Gurion Airport overnight while he was on his way to visit the kevorim of tzaddikim in Ukraine. The bochur, Amitei Amar (20) from Yeshivat Tiferet Zvi in Yerushalayim, was detained and spent the night in the Neve Tzedek military detention facility before being released Friday morning following legal intervention. The arrest marks a significant moment in the ongoing battle over the Israeli government’s attempt to forcibly draft Charedi bochurim. In June 2024, the High Court ruled that there was no longer a legal framework to exempt lomdei torah from military service, leading the IDF to issue thousands of draft orders to members of the Charedi community. However, only a few hundred of the recipients have reported to enlist, reflecting their deep opposition to the coercion of bochurim into military service. According to reports, Amar had checked his travel eligibility before departing and was assured that there was no issue. Nevertheless, he was arrested at the airport—a move that many see as an alarming overreach. Agudas Bnei Yeshivos swiftly mobilized legal efforts to secure Amar’s release. Attorney Menachem Stauber, who represented the bochur, confirmed that the military judicial officer reviewed the case and ordered his immediate release after evaluating the circumstances. In response to the incident, a representative of the Vaad HaYeshivot issued a statement urging bochurim to verify their travel status exclusively through their offices, as government databases are not always synchronized with the IDF’s records. “All yeshiva students were repeatedly advised to coordinate through Vaad HaYeshivot, the only body with up-to-date records on each student’s draft status. Government offices are not properly synced with the army, and independent checks may lead to misinformation,” the official warned. Meanwhile, opposition leader Yair Lapid attempted to politicize the arrest, claiming, “The real headline isn’t ‘Charedi arrested at Ben Gurion,’ but rather ‘IDF deserter arrested at Ben Gurion.’ He wasn’t arrested for being Charedi; he was arrested for not reporting to the draft office after receiving an induction order.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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Emergency Aviation Drill Held At Ben Gurion Airport [PHOTOS]

This morning (Tuesday), the emergency aviation drill of the Israel Airports Authority and Israel’s emergency response system took place, with the participation of the Israel Airports Authority, Magen David Adom, the Israel Police, Fire and Rescue Services, the IDF, and other agencies. The “Phoenix” emergency drill simulated a scenario of a plane crash involving 290 passengers. The Magen David Adom objective in the drill was to assess the activation of emergency protocols and the coordination between all the participating agencies, including the Israel Airports Authority, Israel Police, firefighters, and the IDF, to assess the mobilization of forces, rapid response to the scene, deployment of MDA staff and volunteers on-site, handling and rapid evacuation of casualties, and more. The drill simulated a situation in which the MDA national dispatch center received a report from the control tower of a malfunction on a plane, which then crashed on the runway. As a result, Magen David Adom forces from the Yarkon, Ayalon, Dan, Sharon, Jerusalem, and Lachish regions were required to quickly reach Ben Gurion Airport to provide medical assistance and treatment to 290 simulated casualties from the plane. The drill involved dozens of Magen David Adom emergency vehicles, including 8 mobile intensive care units, 20 life-support ambulances, 4 mass casualty incident stations, 2 jeep ambulances, medicycles, 2 regional command posts, the national command vehicle, a Unimog, an intensive care bus, and hundreds of paramedics, EMTs, and first aid providers.

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Emergency Aviation Drill Held At Ben Gurion

An emergency aviation drill of the Israel Airports Authority and Israel’s emergency response system took place on Tuesday morning, with the participation of the Israel Airports Authority, Magen David Adom, the Israel Police, Fire and Rescue Services, the IDF, and other agencies.

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THE LATEST INFO – UPDATED 1:45PM ET: Ben Gurion Airport Could Shut Monday Morning

Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv could be shut beginning Monday morning after the head of Israel’s largest labor union, Histadrut, called for a nationwide strike to protest the lack of a deal to free hostages still being held by Hamas. Histadrut chief Arnon Bar-David said the strike will begin at 6 a.m. Monday, with Ben Gurion’s closure scheduled for 8 a.m., when all takeoffs and landings will be halted. The duration of the airport’s closure remains uncertain, with the spokesman stating that it is “unclear” how long Israel’s only international hub will be shuttered. It appears that the strike is planned to last – at least at this point – for one day. However, a message on Ben Gurion Airport’s official website indicated that there will be no airport shutdown at all. Reports suggest there is fierce debate among airport workers whether the critical hub should be shut down. It is important to note that a report on Sunday afternoon claimed that the strike at Ben Gurion will last just 2 hours – from 8 am to 10 am – and will be limited to departures, but will not affect incoming flights. But this is all speculation. No airport official has gone on record confirming whether the airport will be open or closed on Monday morning, or how many flights the potential strike would affect. As of 1:30PM ET, the airport has refused to go on record to any news agency regarding the potential shutdown. Multiple airport employees have given YWN mixed signals – and all have refused to go on record. YWN spoke to H&M Travel, a popular travel agent who has booked many flights for bochurim, who says that “based on the word I have received from El Al, all their flights and schedules will continue as regular,” indicating that flights carrying bochurim to Israel on Monday will not be affected. Motty from H&M Travel added that El Al says all flights are running as scheduled, besides for the following changes: בהמשך להודעת ההסתדרות על שביתה במשק מחר, בוצעו השינויים הבאים ללוח הטיסות: טיסה 347 שתוכננה להמראה בשעה 0800, הוקדמה לשעה 0740 מקומי. טיסה 611 שתוכננה להמראה בשעה 0800, הוקדמה לשעה 0740 מקומי. טיסה 221 שתוכננה להמראה בשעה 0800, הוקדמה לשעה 0730 מקומי. טיסה 021 שתוכננה להמראה בשעה 0915 – יתכן ותדחה לשעה 1000. עדכון בהתאם. When there is an official statement that says the airport will be fully open, YWN will publish it. But for reasons unknown, Histadrut, Ben Gurion Airport and everyone else in a position of authority on this matter refuse to go on record, leaving thousands of people in limbo.   “A deal is more important than anything else,” Histadrut Labor Federation chief Arnon Bar-David said in announcing the nationwide strike. “Jews are being murdered in the tunnels of Gaza. It is impossible to grasp and has to stop,” he added, asserting that no deal has been reached “because of political consideration.” “We are no longer one people; we are camp against camp,” Arnon added, saying “we need to bring back the State of Israel.” “We are getting body bags instead of a deal. I have come to the conclusion that only our intervention might move those who need to be moved,” he declared. “I call on the people of Israel to go out

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Ben Gurion Airport Delays Departures Amid Israeli Strikes on Hezbollah

The Israel Airports Authority has announced that all departures from Ben Gurion Airport will be delayed for the next few hours. Incoming flights are being redirected to alternative airports in the region. This decision follows Israel’s preemptive airstrikes on Hezbollah targets, after the IDF detected the terror group preparing for a significant attack on Israel.

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