Late on Sunday, 7 December, Cyprus’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs activated its National Crisis Management Centre after Israel shut Ben Gurion Airport and declared a state of emergency in response to an exchange of strikes with Iran. The ministry urged Cypriot nationals already in Israel to “avoid unnecessary travel, follow local authority instructions and maintain maximum security precautions.”
Consular phone lines were published for the Cyprus embassy in Tel Aviv, and citizens were encouraged to register on the Connect2CY platform so that officials could track their whereabouts. The advisory also warned of cascading aviation disruptions across the region and asked travellers to consider alternative routings via Athens or Larnaca.
![Nicosia issues urgent travel advisory for Cypriots in Israel as Ben Gurion closes]()
Although Cyprus is fewer than 40 minutes’ flying time from Tel Aviv, the foreign ministry emphasised that the island currently faces no direct threat. Even so, the government convened its National Security Council to assess potential knock-on effects on shipping lanes and energy infrastructure.
For companies with personnel in Israel, the advisory triggers duty-of-care obligations: HR and security teams should verify staff locations, update emergency contact lists and review evacuation options such as charter ferries from Haifa to Limassol. Insurers reminded policy-holders that war-risk exclusions may apply if hostilities escalate.
The episode underscores how geopolitical flashpoints can rapidly spill over into corporate mobility planning, particularly for multinationals that use Cyprus as a regional headquarters or logistics hub.
Consular phone lines were published for the Cyprus embassy in Tel Aviv, and citizens were encouraged to register on the Connect2CY platform so that officials could track their whereabouts. The advisory also warned of cascading aviation disruptions across the region and asked travellers to consider alternative routings via Athens or Larnaca.
Although Cyprus is fewer than 40 minutes’ flying time from Tel Aviv, the foreign ministry emphasised that the island currently faces no direct threat. Even so, the government convened its National Security Council to assess potential knock-on effects on shipping lanes and energy infrastructure.
For companies with personnel in Israel, the advisory triggers duty-of-care obligations: HR and security teams should verify staff locations, update emergency contact lists and review evacuation options such as charter ferries from Haifa to Limassol. Insurers reminded policy-holders that war-risk exclusions may apply if hostilities escalate.
The episode underscores how geopolitical flashpoints can rapidly spill over into corporate mobility planning, particularly for multinationals that use Cyprus as a regional headquarters or logistics hub.
