– We have heard drones, we have heard planes, fighters and helicopters passing by us, says Liv Skomakerstuen Ødbehr from Hamar. In the conversation with news, two helicopters fly over the beach hotel in Netanya in Israel. For the past ten days, she and 70 other Norwegians have taken part in the traditional Festival of Tabernacles in Israel. Liv Skomakerstuen Ødbehr is together with 70 other Norwegians in Israel. Photo: Private Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel on Saturday, which then responded with attacks on the Gaza Strip. Many hostages have been taken. The number is unknown. – It is absolutely terrible. The civilian population suffers on both sides, she says. Many thousands have made the trip Løvhyttefesten is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated every year. – There is a whole week of Christians meeting in Jerusalem. This year there were 93 representatives from 93 different countries. – There are quite a few thousands who come here, says Ødbehr. The picture is from the Jerusalem march in Jerusalem during the Løvhyttefesten on 4 October. Photo: Liv Skomakerstuen Ødbehr Norwegian: – Following the situation closely At 12.30 today she was supposed to fly back with Norwergian, but the flight was cancelled. – We have settled down and are waiting to see how we can resolve this further. Ødbehr says that work is being done to find solutions for the journey home during the evening. Norwegian has no direct flights between Norway and Tel Aviv. Today, the flight from Arlanda went as normal. They had to cancel the flight from Kastrup due to a lack of crew due to illness, says press officer at Norwegian, Eline Skari. – Basically, Norwegian’s flights to Tel Aviv go as normal. If this changes, customers will be notified of this directly from us. We are following the situation closely, says Skari. Air France has for the time being chosen to cancel all its flights to Tel Aviv. Feeling safe Ødbehr says the whole group feels safe and that they are well taken care of. – We couldn’t be in a better place when the circumstances are what they are. I think it hurts so much. I really suffer with those who have been taken. There is a bomb shelter in the hotel and quiet in the streets. – We feel safe, but we have stayed at the hotel in case the flight alarm goes off, or that there are other types of factors that make our security compromised. Several civilians have been taken hostage. Israeli woman is taken hostage by Hamas. Trying to get more people home – high season to Israel Travel organizers Plussreiser in Ålesund is working to bring home the total of 113 people they have in Israel. – We have many trips to Israel, because it is high season now, says general manager of Plussreiser, Aud Kindervåg Halsne. There are long queues, no information and a lot of confusion for passengers in Istanbul with canceled flights to Tel Aviv. Photo: Håvard Greger Hagen / news – We have a group in a hotel in Netanya. One group was in Tel Aviv, but has recovered at the airport. They are going home today. A third group is in Jerusalem. Since Friday, Plussreiser has been working around the clock to try to get the travelers home and turn away groups that were on their way to Israel. She says she is in close contact with the group leaders who are on tour. Aud Kindervåg Halsne in plusreiser in Ålesund says they are working to get those who are on trips home. Photo: Plussreiser / news The gang that was in Tel Aviv had to go through bomb shelters several times. They have also heard drones, but haven’t seen anything. Halsne has worked in Plussreiser in 2013 and thinks what is happening now is sad and frightening.
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– Absolutely terrible – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
