In turn, authorities have acted quickly to reinstate order. They shut down Ben Gurion Airport, evacuated hospitals, and heightened alert across the country.
The Israeli government indicated that Ben Gurion Airport, the country’s largest international gateway, would stay closed “for the time being.” Officials say flights will be grounded for days to come stranding thousands of travelers. Those stranded include visitors—including recently-visited celebrity Caitlyn Jenner—who now cannot get out of the country.
Beyond the sudden airport closure, Israel’s hospitals soon started moving hundreds of vulnerable patients into makeshift underground facilities. Local authorities ordered the discharge of all those who were able to safely go home in order to get ready for any possible increase in violence.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation overnight, urging citizens to stock up on essential supplies and remain patient during this challenging time. His message about public safety was a necessary reminder to calm the panic and anxiety created by the US strikes.
On Friday, El Al, Israel’s national airline, cancelled flights in anticipation of the attack. They further compounded the travel chaos faced by millions when they suspended all new bookings through the end of the month.
As conflict grew, Israel compounded the situation by shutting down the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, one of Islam’s holiest sites. This decision is indicative of the government’s increased vigilance on security due to the current situation and fluidity of affairs.
On Friday morning, the opposite was true – a ghost town in defiance of the typically vibrant weekend scene in any of Israel’s cities. Streets that would normally be packed were deserted, with nearly every store and cafe closed, as residents hid in their homes.
The grim toll from those military strikes reverberated through the media landscape. Israel’s news studios became panic rooms gone wild, a frenetic den of emotionally distraught newsmakers. Both scenes immediately lit up news channels as reporters and anchors rushed to cover the story of these historic attacks in real time for an anxious public.
Residents experienced a night marked by anxiety. At 3 am, those chilling sirens broke the night, forcing most people to find safety from fear and destruction. Guy Weinberg, 30, recounted his experience: “I was woken by sirens at 3 am and spent the night in a shelter with my sister and niece.”
Even with the fear and uncertainty, many people said they felt a huge weight lifted. Sigalit, a resident in the occupied West Bank, remarked on her feelings of safety: “We feel safe now, more safe than ever, because we know we destroyed their nuclear weapons.”
Keter Benchimol, 55, who had just recently returned to Israel before the strikes started. She looked at her diagnosis and said, ‘Don’t be afraid; God has us. If it’s my day to go, I might be able to go anywhere.” She continued, “I’m just glad to be back here with my children, not fearing for them from thousands of miles away.”
As analysts scrutinized satellite images and video footage of the strikes, military correspondents discussed their implications and potential future repercussions. Roy Sharon commented on the operation: “Interim summary: a glorious intelligence and operational success for the State of Israel. The (air raid) alarms at 3 am were unnecessary.”
Residents were left to contend with the realities of this new, more widespread phase of violence. At the same time, Israelis stranded abroad took to social media, pleading with the world to help them get home.