Thousands are enduring lengthy waits at land border crossings into Egypt and Jordan as sweeping restrictions on Israel’s airspace have reduced Ben Gurion Airport to a fraction of its normal capacity, leaving many individuals families scrambling to leave the country ahead of Pesach.

By 4 p.m. Thursday, 5,055 Israelis had exited the country through land crossings compared to just 1,133 who departed by air, according to data from Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority, a ratio that would have been unthinkable before the current conflict reshaped daily life across the country.

The crunch intensified after Israel on Monday imposed additional restrictions on flight operations at Ben Gurion, which is currently served only by Israeli carriers. Most foreign airlines suspended service to Tel Aviv when Israel closed its airspace to the majority of commercial civilian traffic on February 28.

Since that closure, the cumulative departure figures tell the story of a country quietly rerouting itself around a conflict that has grounded the normal rhythms of travel: 72,184 Israelis have left via land border crossings since February 28, compared to 57,121 by air, a reversal of what would ordinarily be an overwhelming preference for flight.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)