Israel - where 40,000 tourists are stranded

Shops were closed after the attack on June 13. Photo: Reuters — The shops were closed after the attack on June 13.

Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran early on June 13, closing its airspace and ordering people not to travel, as the two rival countries in the Middle East launched repeated attacks on each other.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Tourism , about 40,000 tourists are stranded in the country. Airlines have canceled flights until further notice, forcing travelers to choose between staying put or finding expensive detours through neighboring countries.

Instead of planning day trips to Jerusalem’s Old City or exploring Tel Aviv’s beaches, foreign tourists are being woken by air raid sirens, forced to rush into bomb shelters and frantically check travel websites for alternative escape routes. From hotels to luxury resorts, air raid shelters are now the most visited places.

Justin Joyner, a tourist from California, USA, was traveling in Jerusalem with his father and son. They had anticipated the possibility of disruption due to Israel's months-long conflict with Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip. However, the American tourist said he did not expect the situation to escalate into a large-scale war. According to Joyner, from a hotel in East Jerusalem - where for two consecutive nights, they witnessed Iranian ballistic missiles flashing across the sky like meteor showers.

"It was unsettling to feel the aftershocks of intercepted missiles right above our heads and then have to take our whole family to the shelter. In the US, that's something we never thought about," Joyner said.

Dr. Greer Glazer, from the US state of Ohio, who is participating in a nursing training program in Jerusalem, said she had to run down 10 flights of stairs every time the alarm sounded, which happened regularly since the night of June 13.

“Being woken up in the middle of the night and rushed to the shelter was the hardest part. My family was panicking,” said Dr. Greer Glazer.

Flights to and from the airport were canceled following Israel's attack on Iran.

Glazer was scheduled to leave Israel on June 29, but is looking to return earlier. The most convenient route is currently to cross the border into Jordan by land, then fly from Amman airport, which is still operating during the day. Israeli media reported that Caitlyn Jenner, an American influencer, left Israel via Jordan after arriving in Tel Aviv on June 12 for the now-canceled Gay Pride festival.

Before leaving, Jenner also shared a photo of herself raising a glass of red wine in the shelter. "A very special way to celebrate Shabbat," Caitlyn Jenner wrote on social media.

Unlike Jerusalem, Tel Aviv has been hit by multiple rockets from Iran, forcing Tuhrim to constantly go in and out of the hotel shelter. The tourist, who came from London to visit her daughter who lives in Tel Aviv, said that Israel attacked Iran just two days after arriving and she was stranded there. However, Tuhrim said it was better to be near her daughter because if she were in London, she would only be able to watch the news and not know how she was doing.

The Israeli Ministry of Tourism has set up a 24/7 online support center in English and Hebrew for stranded tourists.

However, most tourist attractions remain closed. Museums are closed until further notice, entry to Jerusalem's Old City is off-limits to non-residents, and many shops remain shuttered.

Jerusalem resident Anwar Abu Lafi said the streets and shops were deserted. He was not optimistic that the situation would improve soon.

"We are comforting ourselves that the future will be brighter," said Anwar Abu Lafi.

TH (according to VnExpress)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/israel-noi-40-000-du-khach-dang-bi-mac-ket-414275.html