El Al rescue flights to Amsterdam to operate on Shabbat, trauma response units activate

Following the violent attacks on Israelis in Amsterdam on Thursday night, during which ten were injured and three went missing, El Al has announced that it will operate three rescue flights from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv on Shabbat after having received permission from the Chief Rabbis of Israel.

All three flights will be free of charge, and the first will leave from Amsterdam at 14:00 (local time), and will land back in Tel Aviv on Friday evening. The next two will leave later.

All seats on the planes (tourists, premium, and business) will be provided free of charge for passengers who hold a flight ticket with El Al or another Israeli airline. People wanting to fly must register through the customer service hotline at a number designated for customers located in Amsterdam, on the phone 03-9404040.

Separately from the rescue flight, El Al announced that two flights are making their way to Amsterdam and will also return to Israel today - carrying about 350 Israelis on them. El Al stressed that these flights were planned in advance and are unrelated to Thursday night events.

The PassportCard travel insurance company announced the departure of two planes to Amsterda, both carrying medical teams to treat Israelis injured in the pogrom. PassportCard has received reports of ten injured, who are currently receiving assistance from local service providers.

The PassportCard company asks its policyholders to contact the company as soon as possible to update them on their condition and whereabouts. 

Cellcom announced that it will create international phone packages for all customers staying in the Netherlands to stay in contact with people to Israel. 

Cellcom's service centers are available to all customers staying abroad for any matter, 24/7, on WhatsApp: 0524999123 and by phone: +972529986919.

Partner likewise offered its customers staying in the Netherlands a package of surfing, calls, and messages at no cost, which will be activated automatically without needing a request from the customer.

Pelephone announced that it is mobilizing to help Israelis in Amsterdam and will allow the company's customers in the city to make calls and browse for free over the weekend to allow them to be in touch with their relatives and stay updated with the news. Pelephone customers in Amsterdam will receive the benefit automatically, meaning users do not need to contact the company's call centers to receive it.

Emotional support

United Hatzalah's Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit has also opened an emergency hotline for Israelis in Amsterdam. The incident response specialists said they were on call to offer support to those in need.

Israel's Health Ministry also said it had begun to provide emotional support and psychological assistance to the victims of the violence.