Travel options out of Israel continue to deteriorate, leaving thousands of American citizens with increasingly limited options.

As reported by Chaim V’Chessed, more than a week ago, the United States Department of State began operating evacuation flights from Israel. The initiative had the potential to significantly ease the growing backlog of U.S. citizens seeking to return home.

After just a few days, however, the State Department announced an arrangement with El Al, under which the airline would transport American citizens – including both El Al ticket holders and those without El Al tickets – on specially cleared flights to the United States. These flights were reportedly authorized to operate with expanded passenger capacity.

In practice, the arrangement did not produce the expected relief. Seats were largely allocated to existing El Al passengers, and even for them, availability fell far short of demand. Thousands of registered Americans remained without confirmed travel.

Yesterday, the situation worsened. The Israeli government again reduced the number of passengers permitted on North America-bound flights, limiting aircraft to just 130 passengers. At the same time, El Al ended its cooperation with the State Department.

The combined impact is significant – fewer seats, no coordinated evacuation framework, and mounting uncertainty. According to sources, more than 13,000 Americans are still seeking to depart Israel. With capacity now reduced, the likelihood of securing a direct seat to the United States has become extremely slim.

At present, the only consistently functioning option appears to be overland travel via Egypt.

Guidance for U.S. Citizens Currently in Israel

In light of the current situation, U.S. citizens who are registered to depart are strongly encouraged to contact the State Department directly.

1 – Locate Your Case Number

Search your email inbox for a message from [email protected]. This confirmation email, sent upon registration, includes your case number near the bottom. Most case numbers begin with 058.

Those who have not yet registered should do so immediately at this link.

2 – Email [email protected]

In the subject line, include your case number followed by:

“I need evacuation help”

Example: 058-XXXXX – I need evacuation help

3 – Provide Relevant Details

In the body of the email, briefly state that you are a U.S. citizen registered to leave Israel and outline:

– Steps already taken, such as contacting El Al, experiencing a cancellation, or attempting to rebook

– Any special circumstances, including medical conditions, health emergencies, elderly travelers, infants, minors, or other urgent needs

If a substantial number of registered citizens contact the State Department directly, it may prompt reconsideration of the suspended charter framework. At present, there is no other realistic large-scale mechanism for facilitating departures of U.S. citizens from Israel.