24 flights scheduled from Israel to Cyprus on Thursday (Updated)

A total of 24 flights are scheduled to land in Cyprus from Israel on Thursday as people flee the ongoing conflict in the country.

Of the flights, 23 are set to land at Larnaca airport, and the other at Paphos airport.

Meanwhile, foreign ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis explained to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that the passengers who were due to board the Austrian military aircraft to Cyprus which broke down on Wednesday evening are leaving Israel on alternative flights.

Some 80 of the planned travellers boarded an Israeli commercial aircraft to travel to Larnaca, while a direct flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna has been planned for today.

Gotsis also said arrangements are being made for the small number of Cypriot citizens resident in Israel who wish to return to the country, and that they will board commercial flights within the coming days.

He added that the ministry is in “constant contact” with the Cypriot embassy in Tel Aviv.

Larnaca, hosting Cyprus’s biggest airport, has seen a swell of expatriate Israelis, including reservists, using it as a transit point to get on the next available flight to Tel Aviv. It has also seen an influx from Israel of people who lost their homes, Chief Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin said.

“Everyone opened their doors, including many many Cypriots,” Raskin told Reuters.

The community was encouraged that Cypriot authorities were working on providing incoming Israelis with accommodation but as of Wednesday night, Larnaca itself had reached full capacity.

“We are urgently seeking more accommodation, anyone that can even offer a bedroom in a big house… we don’t have where to put people to sleep,” he said.

“I just got off the phone and there are another 150 people on their way here now, with zero plans of where to stay, where to eat and how long. Nothing.”

An informal network of Israelis were working in every Cypriot city to offer first response aid and accommodation, he said. “For us as a community we need to open arms, hug them all and receive them safely.”