Dr. Aryeh Simmonds and other doctors at Laniado headed back to Israel as a result of El Al Cleared to Begin Repatriation Flights for Over 100,000 Stranded Israelis.

The airline has been commencing flights from several key European cities, including Larnaca (Cyprus), Athens (Greece), Rome and Milan (Italy), and Paris (France). Passengers eligible for these emergency flights were all assigned seats and received confirmation on Tuesday.

Among those awaiting return is Dr. Aryeh Simmonds, Head of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Laniado Hospital. Dr. Simmonds had been in the UK on a fundraising and awareness tour to support the campaign for Laniado’s new Sheltered Maternity Unit. The final part of his trip included a two-day whisky distillery tour in Speyside, attended by 20 supporters of the hospital.

Due to his vital role as a paediatric specialist, Dr. Simmonds has been in close contact with the Ministry of Health. He flew from London to Athens and boarded a repatriation flight which landed back in Israel this morning.