As thousands of Israelis remain stuck abroad due to the ongoing war with Iran, Greece has become one of the largest hubs for those stranded outside Israel.
Since Friday, an emergency operations center has been operating in Athens, set up by a group of Israeli volunteers affiliated with the Beita real estate group. The group has been locating Israeli travelers and placing them in vacant apartments across Greece—mainly in Athens—most of them free of charge.
"Hundreds have contacted us, and thousands are searching for places to stay," said Daniel Halevy, the company’s VP of marketing. "We’ve already housed about 20 families and are working through targeted Facebook pages we set up. The idea behind the war room is to help any Israeli stuck in Athens or Greece as a whole. We hope to help as many as we can."
Prioritizing the most vulnerable
Not everyone gets a bed. Halevy said the team had to start prioritizing. “We’re giving preference to the elderly, families with children and people in vulnerable situations.” Many Israelis had converged on Athens, hoping to board evacuation flights.
However, the flights have just begun from Cyprus and it is not known when they will start from Greece. Ben Gurion Airport remains closed and Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority has said it could be weeks before all Israelis return home.
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“There are heartbreaking cases,” Halevy said. “A couple was robbed a week ago—everything was taken from them. The father is a combat veteran suffering from PTSD and they’re nearly out of money. Of course they’re getting a place, no matter what.”
The group is also calling on local property owners to volunteer their apartments—free of charge if possible or for a symbolic fee. “If we can’t place someone in an apartment, we try to help in other ways—even just finding medication or being there for emotional support,” Halevy added.
Housing crisis worsens in Athens
Asked how they’re finding so many apartments, Halevy explained, “Our partners are working every contact they have—calling friends, using online groups, advertising everywhere. We launched a dedicated site where anyone who knows a property owner willing to help can leave a message.”
Even without the Israeli crisis, the situation in Athens is tight. “Hotels and Airbnb rentals are at full capacity. Prices in what’s left are outrageous. Budget hotels are full and the expensive ones are out of reach for most people.”
While no official number has been released, Halevy estimates that “tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands” of Israelis are currently in Greece. “It feels like a huge wave of people. Many are terrified. Some won’t even stay near central Athens. Even in quiet, peaceful neighborhoods that I personally know well, people are scared.”
When asked if a stranded Israeli can reach out for help, she answered, “Absolutely. We’ll do everything we can to find a solution. And if we can’t house them, we’ll help in any other way possible.”
Despite the scale, Halevy said the team’s efforts felt natural. “It’s a national mission but it’s not heroic. It’s simply what we need to do. None of us feels special. It’s the bare minimum we can offer in the midst of all this chaos and pain.”
More companies join aid efforts
Another real estate company, Palmo, has also joined the effort. Based in Athens with a local staff of dozens, Palmo is offering immediate and free support to Israeli citizens.
Sagi Maman, the company’s project manager, is leading the response and has been working around the clock to answer every request. Services include finding accommodation, translating documents, locating medical clinics and pharmacies, connecting with local service providers and offering guidance around the city.
“We mobilized our local team to help any Israeli who needs it,” said Palmo CEO and founder Peleg Yariv. “From finding a place to sleep to solving daily logistical problems—this is our duty as Israelis and as a company that operates here full-time.”
‘We came for a retreat – and got stuck’
Mor Porat-Margalit, a Pilates instructor, is among the many caught in the chaos. “I arrived in Rhodes with about 30 women for a planned retreat—five days of breathing, calm, empowerment and renewal,” she said.
“As the owner of an academy and a mother to a toddler and a young boy, I just needed a break from the craziness of everyday life. But instead of returning refreshed—we’re stranded. Everyone here is far from home, from our children, our families—and we don’t know when we’ll be able to go back. It’s extremely stressful and uncertain.”
The group includes women from all walks of life: recent veterans, young professionals, therapists and mothers of young children. “We’re all checking the news constantly, but no one knows how or when we’ll be able to return,” she said.
“Now we’re being asked to leave our hotel and finding one place that can house all of us is nearly impossible—especially given the travel warnings and the tense atmosphere.”
Porat-Margalit said they’ve reached out to every relevant authority—from Israel’s Foreign Ministry to airlines—pleading for help. “All we want is to get home to our children and return to our lives, even if normal life is far from easy right now.”