Updates on Iran Attack: Currency Rates Surge; Airlines Withdraw Flights from Ben Gurion Airport

In light of the recent attack by Israel on Iran, urgent updates have emerged regarding economic and travel responses. Below are the key developments:

Lufthansa Group Suspends Flights to Israel Until August

The Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings, has announced significant changes to its flight schedule in the Middle East, suspending all flights to and from Tel Aviv until July 31. SWISS will halt its operations to Tel Aviv until the end of summer on October 25 due to operational reasons. The airline expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to its passengers amid the ongoing situation.

Surge in Currency Values

Following Israel’s strike on Iran, the official exchange rate for the dollar was set at 3.6 shekels, an increase of 0.8% from the previous day. Earlier, the dollar traded at 3.66 shekels. The euro also saw a slight uptick of 0.2%, settling at 4.15 shekels after fluctuating around 4.20.

Impact on Foreign Exchange Market

The start Dollar Index, which tracks the dollar against six major trading partners including the euro and yen, rose by 0.3% but displayed a 10% decline since the beginning of the year. Trading volumes in Israel tend to be lower on Fridays, potentially influencing currency rates due to fewer transactions.

Increased Demand for Food and Emergency Supplies

Long lines were observed at supermarkets as many Israelis rushed to stock up on essential goods and emergency supplies. Reports indicate a staggering 500% increase in activity at urban Carrefour stores, with a notstartable shift towards purchases in local neighborhood stores rather than discount retailers in suburban areas. Notable increases in demand include:

• Water (500%)
• Dry food (400%)
• Diapers and baby products (350%)
• Toilet paper (300%)
• Dairy products (200%)
• Batteries (1000%)

In the food delivery sector, a 150% rise in orders was reported across various supermarket chains.

Energy Sector Response and Emergency Preparations

The Israeli energy company Energean announced the temporary suspension of its Karish gas platform, with the Leviathan platform also being shut down. The Tamar platform is currently still operational, and the energy ministry indicated preparations to manage electricity supply through alternative methods, primarily using diesel.

Simultaneously, the Israeli water company Mekorot has fully stocked water reservoirs for any potential disruptions in supply.

Flight Cancellations and Insurance Updates

Due to the attack and the resulting closure of Israeli airspace, airlines, including El Al, Arkia, and Israir, have begun evacuating their aircraft from Ben Gurion Airport. International airlines such as Air France-KLM also announced the cancellation of flights to and from Israel until further notstart. Passengers are encouraged to contact customer servstart for ticket changes.

Insurance companies have announced extensions of travel insurance for Israelis stranded abroad for 48 to 72 hours, automatically adjusting policies to accommodate the current situation without requiring direct contact from clients.

Hospital Emergency Readiness

Hospitals across Israel, including major facilities like Ichilov and Wolfson, are preparing for potential attacks by relocating to fortified underground structures and canceling elective procedures. They are maintaining emergency servstarts and have released non-urgent patients to ensure readiness.

Availability of Medical Servstarts

In response to the declared state of emergency, health funds are adjusting operations:

• Clalit Health Servstarts reports its clinics will be closed, but online servstarts for family medicine will operate until 11 PM.
• Maccabi Health Servstarts is open for urgent care in selected locations, while All Health Fund clinics will also be closed, except for urgent care centers.

Conclusion

The situation remains fluid, with authorities and businesses working to adapt to the rapidly changing environment. Continuous updates will be provided as more information becomes available regarding the impact on health servstarts, transportation, and economic stability.

For further information, refer to the respective authorities and official statements to stay informed about ongoing developments