Approximately 2,500 stranded Israelis were expected on Thursday to depart Cyprus on 21 special flights to Israel and Jordan, from Larnaca airport, while arrivals and departures to and from Israel are also taking place by boats at the city’s marina, amid strict security measures throughout Larnaca. In Limassol, the Crown Iris cruise ship was to depart this afternoon for the port of Haifa carrying around 1600 Israeli nationals.

According to information CNA has obtained from Hermes Airports, the company running Cyprus’ two international airports, eight special repatriation flights were expected to take place on Thursday to Haifa and another five to Tel Aviv.

Also scheduled, were eight special flights to Aqaba in Jordan, which borders Israel, to transport Israelis who want to return to their country.

Approximately 2,500 Israelis are expected to be transported on 21 flights.

On Wednesday, 13 flights took place, nine to Haifa and four to Tel Aviv, with over a thousand Israeli nationals who were on vacation or business trips in other countries and expressed the wish to be repatriated.

In addition, based on information CNA has obtained, between Sunday and Wednesday, more than 100 boats arrived at the Larnaca marina carrying around 460 people to Cyprus, while around the same number of people left for Israel.

At the port of Limassol, Israeli nationals were boarding the Crown Iris cruise ship, bound for the port of Haifa. The boarding process of approximately 1,600 passengers began in the morning.

The Crown Iris, which is participating in Israel’s “Safe Return” operation, was expected to depart this afternoon, while, according to the current schedule, it will make one more trip during the week and one or two trips within the next.

Meanwhile, in Larnaca, the Police continue to take strict security measures, with patrols and armed police officers, in various places such as hotels, businesses of Israeli interests and at the Jewish Synagogue but also at the Larnaca airport and the marina.