Overview

• Israel has called up 360,000 army reservists to assist in the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
• El Al Airlines received special permission from rabbis to operate flights on the Jewish Sabbath for the first time in 40 years to bring reservists back from New York and Bangkok.
• The airline flights transporting soldiers will be free and financed by El Al and U.S. financial institutions as a measure to preserve life.
• Palestinian gunmen launched a surprise attack on Israel prompting the call up of reservists and military response.
• The flights on October 12, 2023 mark a historic departure from El Al's policy of not flying on the Sabbath.