ISTANBUL, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- El Al, Israel's main airline, arranged two flights to bring Israelis back from Türkiye after Israel issued on Wednesday a travel warning for its citizens visiting Türkiye, local media reported.
Two Israeli flights left Istanbul and bounded for Tel Aviv on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, Türkiye's Demiroren news agency said, showing pictures of Israelis departing from Istanbul's airport.
Israel's National Security Council raised on Wednesday the travel warning for Türkiye to the highest level of four, citing "terrorist threats against Israelis." It urged all Israelis in Türkiye to leave as soon as possible.
El Al said Wednesday it would operate special free flights for Israelis in Türkiye, adding that it would allow Israelis who traveled independently from Türkiye to Greece to fly from Athens to Israel for free.
Tens of thousands have joined protests across Türkiye since a Tuesday attack on a hospital in Gaza caused heavy casualties.
At least 471 people were killed when a rocket hit the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza on Tuesday evening, according to the Gaza-based Health Ministry. It said Israel carried out the airstrikes, while the Israeli military blamed the Islamic Jihad group for the "failed shooting" that targeted Israel.
The attack on the hospital has prompted widespread protests in Middle Eastern countries. ■
