An anonymous man reportedly purchased plane tickets for Israeli Defense Force call-ups heading back to embattled Israel at JFK airport on Monday.
The Jewish man stood near the ticket counter for El Al — Israel’s national airline — and quietly bought tickets for those who showed him their IDF call-up notice, Avi Meyer, Editor-in-Chief of the Jerusalem Post, shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In total, the man bought 250 Israel-bound tickets, according to an El Al crew member, Meyer said.
El Al spokeswoman Ofri Rimoni said that there has been an outpouring of support for Reservists, and, after hearing about what had happened, reached out to their employees at JFK officials to ask what happened.
A Haredi man apparently had come in and paid for reservists’ military gear to be shipped over in cargo, Rimoni told The Post.
Later another man with credit cards, who appeared to be with some American organization, bought a number of plane tickets for reservists who needed to be in Israel — although it’s not clear how many tickets he purchased.
The airline denied that the Haredi man paid $500,000, as was purported by some users on social media.
Rimoni emphasized the airline is not legally authorized to accept any donations on behalf of the reservists, but said “there’s a lot of people coming to JFK to our counters and asking to buy tickets for soldiers.”
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El Al cannot accept the money as a middle-man between the reservists and the tickets, she said.
It’s been “beautiful” seeing Americans show up to the airport to help buy tickets, she added.
While most major airlines have been canceling flights to Israel since deadly fighting erupted with Hamas this weekend, El Al and other Israeli-based airlines have added flights to get reservists to Israel.
Israel defense officials announced on Monday it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists after the Palestinian militant group’s deadly attacks prompted a swift response from the Israeli military in Gaza and the West Bank.
El Al told Reuters Tuesday that, while it is not offering free flights for reservists, it was working to keep prices affordable for those flocking home to defend the country.
Worst attack on Israel in 50 years: How we got here
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip over three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.
2006: Terrorist group Hamas wins a Palestinian legislative election.
2007: Hamas seizes control of Gaza in a civil war.
2008: Israel launches military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the town of Sderot.
2023: Hamas launches the biggest attack on Israel in 50 years.
Over 700 Israelis are dead, over 2,150 are wounded and at least 100 were taken hostage, with the death toll expected to rise after Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli towns.
Hamas terrorists were seen taking female hostages and parading them down the street in horrifying videos.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We are at war” and vowed Hamas would pay “a price it has never known.”
Gaza health officials report at least 300 Palestinians have been killed with 2,200 injured.
Reservists flying from the United States are being charged $900; flights from Bangkok cost $650; and flights under four hours from Europe cost $300, a spokesperson told Reuters.
Other Israeli airlines such as Israir Airlines and Arkia were offering additional flights to Israel from cities across the world.
Flights evacuating foreigners were also leaving Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport — the country’s busiest.
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