Transportation Minister Miri Regev claimed on Thursday that she had reached an agreement with MSC - the world's second-largest shipping company - to join the rescue operation of Israelis stranded abroad, using the company's ferry.
According to the Transportation Ministry, one of the routes that will be operated as part of the plan is the Limassol-Ashdod line.
In a statement, Regev said, "We will bring everyone back. By air, sea, and land."
MSC responded, stating that "a request was received from the Transportation Ministry on the subject, and it is being reviewed."
Petition to help stranded Israelis abroad get home
Israel Hofsheet, along with Israeli citizens stuck abroad, filed a petition against Regev and the government for neglecting to exercise their authority to instruct El Al Airlines to operate rescue flights on Shabbat.
They sent an "exhaustion of remedies" letter on Wednesday to the attorney-general and the Transportation Ministry demanding the authorities provide widespread transport throughout the week, including on Shabbat.
The letter also demanded the particular provision of transport options to the around 150,000 Israelis stuck abroad after Israeli airspace was closed at the start of Operation Rising Lion.
An "exhaustion of remedies" letter is an attempt to settle legal issues outside of court as much as possible before making that move. Procedurally, this is the first move done before a court petition, and traditionally is seen as required before a petition is filed. It also gives time for the others to respond in kind.
It argued that essential travel must be provided, as the Transportation Ministry already vowed to do.
The letter referenced several High Court of Justice decisions in its favor that were handed down around the time of the Hamas October 7 massacre.
Operating flights on Shabbat
On Tuesday, Regev and El Al, which has taken charge of the rescue flights, asked for a religious ruling from Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef regarding operating the rescue flights on Shabbat.
He said that, in this particular case, it is not a matter of life and death, so the flights are not to operate on Shabbat.
Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.