JERUSALEM, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Israel will gradually reopen its airspace starting Wednesday night to facilitate the return of over 100,000 citizens stranded abroad, Transportation Minister Miri Regev said Tuesday.
The first flights are set to resume overnight Wednesday at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main international gateway. Israel's airspace has been closed since Saturday's joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran.
Regev said that the phased reopening is "pending security approval" and will initially prioritize Israeli carriers.
Under the ministry's plan, one 200-passenger plane can land per hour on Thursday, increasing to two larger planes per hour by Friday.
While the plan focuses on returning Israelis, it remains unclear when foreign tourists currently in Israel will be able to depart. ■
