His 74-year-old mother is not doing well psychologically after the Hamas attack on Israel and that is why Israeli Eran from Hilversum is traveling to his home country today.
He booked a ticket to Tel Aviv with El Al and flew from Schiphol this afternoon. “It has a lot of impact. They keep watching the news and hearing all the stories. Physically my family is doing well, but mentally things are not going well.”
Eran, who prefers not to give his surname, hopes that his visit will provide some distraction from the situation in the country. “I bought a very expensive ticket, for almost 1,000 euros, because this is the only airline that flies.”
Startled at the airport
Eran has lived in the Netherlands for thirteen years with his wife and children. He says he initially wasn’t afraid to go to Israel until he got to the airport.
“When checking in, security guards asked a lot of questions about whether I was sure I wanted to go. I think that’s because I live here, they probably think it’s strange that I’m going there now.”
Other travelers
The same plane, which left early in the afternoon, also contained many Israelis returning home. Like Talya, who ended her trip to India prematurely when she heard the news. She wasn’t alone, she says. “Many Israelis wanted to go back and tried to book a flight.”
Hers led via Amsterdam. Talya is afraid of what awaits her. “My family is safe, they do not live in the war zone. But like everyone else, I know many people who are missing or going to fight.” She says that all the Israeli men she met during her trip are returning to join the army.