Fleeing the Missiles… When Yachts Become Lifeboats in Israel
When airspace is closed and the land is unstable, the sea becomes the final escape route.
At docks in Herzliya, Haifa, and Ashkelon, unusual scenes unfold daily: individuals and families drag their trolleys, moving between yachts in search of a boat to take them to Cyprus—and from there, anywhere far from the bombings.
Since the skies closed following Friday’s attack on Iran, hundreds of Israelis have joined social media groups offering alternative escape routes by sea.
Israel says it is planning to repatriate over 150,000 citizens stranded abroad due to the closure of Ben Gurion Airport, but has no intention of reopening the skies for outbound travel.
Thus, the sea remains the only option. This was documented in a report by the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz.
Yachts as a means of escape
At Herzliya marina, people begin arriving as early as 7 AM—mostly alone, some couples, a few families—towing luggage and scanning the docks for the yacht meant to take them to Cyprus, and then beyond.
Facebook groups dedicated to maritime escape now show hundreds of people trying to leave Israel this way.
Where there’s demand, offers follow—at a price.
In ports like Haifa and Ashkelon, small yacht owners are organizing group trips with up to ten passengers.
At Herzliya marina alone, one morning saw over a hundred people preparing to sail.
Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority has yet to assess the full scale of this trend.
Most passengers claim they don’t live in Israel and are simply trying to get home. Others say they are heading abroad to join children or partners.
Very few admit to fleeing Iranian rocket attacks, and none agree to speak publicly with reporters.
Nir, pushing a cart and some beer, was the only one showing visible excitement. From Costa Rica, he came to visit Israel at what turned out to be “a very unfortunate time.”
“Who could have imagined it would escalate like this?” he asked.
25 hours at sea
The boat trip to Larnaca, Cyprus, aboard a small yacht is expected to take 25 hours.
“I thought it would be less—but who cares?” Nir joked.
“We’re on an adventure.”
Five other men were preparing to depart on the same boat.
The captain, Guy, remained silent and clearly uninterested in speaking to journalists.
On the dock, Sharon (not her real name) was saying goodbye to her partner, who would continue from Cyprus to London to see his children.
When asked why she wasn’t going with him: “My son is here. I’m staying to protect him.”
Then added, “There are many boats leaving… People are desperate.”
For Adi (also a pseudonym), this is a one-way trip: “I’m relocating to Portugal.”
Improvised departures
Two men pushing a shopping cart full of supplies turned out to be yacht owners preparing their boat for its next trip.
Chaim and his son Amir (also aliases) tried to unlock a grey gate leading to the vessels to set off for Larnaca.
Nearby, a couple stood with their son—who lives in California and was now returning home.
“Once I realized flights wouldn’t resume soon, I contacted the Ministry of Transport and Tourism. They advised going via Sharm el-Sheikh or Jordan, since I also hold a foreign passport. Some Israelis do that, but I preferred not to.”
A rough crossing
At Abu Elafiyah Bakery in Jaffa, one of the few spots still open, retired captain Moshe and his sailor friends gather daily.
They say sailing to Cyprus on a small yacht is not for everyone.
“It’s not dangerous,” Moshe said,
“but for those not used to the sea—it’ll be hell.”
$1,700 per seat
Passengers report paying 2,500 shekels (~$713) per person on small yachts, and others received offers of up to 6,000 shekels (~$1,700).
“Prices vary depending on the yacht type, comfort level, and speed,” said one.
“Some yachts have private cabins, and others run on diesel and can reach Cyprus in just eight hours.”
