Cruise ship carrying 1,300 Israelis running from war berths in Cyprus

CYPRUS – A cruise ship carrying about 1,300 people wanting to leave Israel amid the escalating violence arrived at the Cypriot port city of Larnaca on Friday.

Hundreds of German citizens are said to be among the passengers, the Cypriot broadcaster RIK reported.

The ship, the Crown Iris, had departed from the northern Israeli port city of Haifa the previous evening.

RIK reported that the passengers will be able to fly immediately to Germany and other countries from nearby Larnaca airport if they wish.

The island republic of Cyprus, which is part of the European Union, had already made its airports and ports available on Tuesday to help people who want to leave the region.

The Palestinian organisation Hamas had previously launched a large-scale terrorist attack against Israel on Saturday.

According to Cypriot radio, the Crown Iris is not only bringing people from Israel to Cyprus – it is also to travel back to Haifa with around 150 Israelis who want to return to their homeland.