The tension in the Middle East and especially in Israel has caused serious concern among tens of thousands of pilgrims and visitors who are in the Holy Land. The Romanian Patriarchate, which has a highly developed pilgrimage activity, has taken an active role in supporting Romanian pilgrims caught up in the hostilities in Israel. In cooperation with the Patriarchate’s representation in the Holy Land, as well as with the competent state authorities of Romania, a plan has been organized for the safe evacuation of citizens from the region. According to information disseminated by the church television channel TRINITAS TV, several groups of Romanian pilgrims have already been relocated to safe areas. The main route used to evacuate visitors from Israel is through Egypt, as this is the only safe route that has remained accessible in recent days. The groups of pilgrims are being transported by land to the southern border of Israel, in the Gulf of Aqaba area, from where they cross into Egyptian territory. From there, most are taken to Cairo or Sharm el-Sheikh, where flights are being organized to return to Romania.
The representative of the Romanian Patriarchate in the Holy Land, Archimandrite Father Ioan Meiu, explained that the evacuation process has been going smoothly so far. “The majority of people who were in the areas affected by the military conflict managed to leave Israel safely,” he said. Cooperation between church and state institutions is considered crucial to the success of the operation.
Most Romanians who are in the Holy Land have traveled to Israel for pilgrimage purposes. However, the worsening security situation in recent days has caused great concern. Alarm sirens are sounding daily and repeatedly in most Israeli cities, and local authorities are urging residents and visitors to be vigilant and follow safety instructions. The situation is being closely monitored by international institutions, and a number of countries have already started repatriating their citizens.
