Ben Gurion Airport in the Crosshairs: Home Front Command Pushes to Cap Gatherings at 2,500

Following the missile fire from Iran toward Israel and concern over continued security escalation, new Home Front Command guidelines took effect last night (Sunday), shifting the entire country to a reduced level of activity. As part of preparations for the security situation, additional steps are being considered, including limiting the number of people allowed at Ben Gurion Airport and scaling back flight activity.

Home Front Command is demanding that gatherings at Ben Gurion Airport be limited to just 2,500 people. Such a move could affect the scope of operations at the airport and reduce the number of flights possible each hour. Even so, at this stage Israel’s airspace remains open, and discussions on the issue are taking place at this time.

At the same time, Israel is also preparing for the possibility of shutting down Ben Gurion Airport. Transportation Minister Miri Regev addressed the situation and clarified: "As of this moment, there is no airspace closure, and flights are operating as usual."

El Al announced an expansion of its flexible policy for passengers holding tickets for flights scheduled to depart by June 13. According to the company’s announcement, passengers will be able to convert their ticket into a voucher for future use or postpone their flight date without being charged change fees, subject to the stated conditions.

The new Home Front Command guidelines went into effect last night at 10:00 p.m. and are expected to remain in place until this evening at 8:00 p.m. However, there is a possibility they will be updated even earlier depending on developments and the latest situational assessment.

Under the restrictions, educational activities are prohibited throughout the country. Education Minister Yoav Kisch said last night: "There will be no school tomorrow and no matriculation exams. Across the country, schools and educational frameworks are closed under Home Front Command instructions."

In addition, gatherings of up to 200 people are permitted in open areas and up to 500 participants in enclosed buildings, provided there is access to a standard protected space within the required response time. Beaches have also been closed to the public, while workplaces may continue operating only if there is a way to reach a standard protected space within the required time frame.

The impact of the new guidelines was also felt in the worlds of sports and culture. Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar announced last night that all cultural and sporting events across the country would be scaled back, in line with the restrictions set by Home Front Command.