Israel Launches Sea Corridor via Cyprus to Return Medical Personnel

The Israeli Ministry of Health has launched an emergency operation to repatriate doctors and other critical healthcare staff stranded abroad amid the ongoing escalation with Iran and the suspension of air travel due to airspace closures.

According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the operation utilizes a maritime corridor through Cyprus.

Data indicates that approximately 1,300 healthcare workers are currently outside Israel, with about 500 deemed "essential" for maintaining the system's operational continuity.

Cyprus plays a key role in the operation, serving as the starting point for the first maritime return route. According to the report, an initial group of 20 individuals was scheduled to depart from a Cypriot port on a container ship. The crossing takes approximately eight hours, and passengers are provided with life jackets.

It is noted that this currently serves as the only open channel for returning Israeli citizens.

The Israeli Ministry of Health characterized the mission as a pilot project. The goal is to evaluate the procedure's safety and the participants' physical readiness before potentially expanding the program.

Should the first operation prove successful, a second dispatch is planned for the following day, tentatively for an additional 70 employees.

In parallel, other repatriation options are being explored in case airspace remains closed. These include flights to neighboring countries with open land borders with Israel (such as Jordan or Egypt), followed by entry into the country via buses under state escort and security.