An official with Israeli cargo firm Zim Shipping Co. said authorities were using container ships to bring back dozens of doctors stranded overseas amid the war with Iran, as the Transportation Ministry announced plans to shuttle Israelis back into the country via the Taba border crossing with Egypt.

The Zim official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters on Tuesday that its cargo ships were being used to transfer doctors from Limassol in Cyprus to the northern Israeli port of Haifa, in an operation coordinated between the company, the ministry and major Israeli hospitals.

So far, 40 doctors have returned in two sailings, one of which took place on Tuesday. More shuttles are planned this week to repatriate what could be hundreds of doctors to deal with Israelis injured by Iranian missiles.

“It’s the easiest way to get them home when there are no flights,” said the official.

The doctors were away either at conventions or on holidays and now sought to “go back as fast as possible to their jobs in case of emergencies,” he added.

Zim was re-routing ships from usual shipping routes between Israel and Mediterranean ports such as Greece and Italy, and making makeshift arrangements on the cargo vessels to keep the doctors safe and comfortable during the 15-hour voyage from Cyprus.

The cargo shipping option was a “far more efficient and easy” way to return than the route available to most Israelis, said the Zim official.

Israeli airlines have begun repatriation flights via the Taba land crossing, which ​borders the Red Sea resort city of Eilat in southern Israel.

However, passengers must then travel north to major cities, which takes hours by car or bus.

On Tuesday, the Transportation Ministry said it was making buses available for Israelis arriving at Taba International Airport.

Buses will be waiting at the exit of the border terminal in Israeli territory and timed to the landing times of the repatriation flights at the Egyptian airport.

The buses will depart for Eilat Central Bus Station, Beersheba Central Bus Station, Ben Gurion Airport (long-term parking), and Tel Aviv Savidor Center train station.

Meanwhile, Israel is considering a gradual reopening of its airspace earlier than the start of next week, depending on security developments.

While no decision has been made, the Transportation Ministry is considering a plan for a phased reopening of Israel’s airspace to allow local airlines to start flying Israelis home before the weekend.

The plan is still subject to approval by the defense establishment and aviation authorities. As of now, Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport remains closed through at least Friday.

Hundreds of thousands of passengers have been stranded by flight cancellations worldwide due to the closure of much of the Middle East’s airspace following the start of the US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran on Saturday.

Iran has responded with ballistic missile and drone strikes on Israel and Arab countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

In Israel, a dozen people have been killed and hundreds more wounded in Iran’s strikes.

The hostilities followed weeks of a US military buildup and threats by US President Donald Trump to strike Iran, first over its bloody crackdown on anti-regime protesters in January and more recently over its nuclear program.

US and Israeli officials have said the campaign could last weeks and that it aims to enable regime change in Iran.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

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