TEL AVIV (Dispatches) -- Hundreds of settlers are scrambling to flee Israeli occupied territories via boats to Cyprus, an Israeli newspaper reported on Tuesday, as Iranian missile strikes intensify. 
“The marina in Herzliya has recently taken on the atmosphere of a makeshift terminal. Starting at seven in the morning, people begin to arrive – mostly alone, some in couples, a few with families – dragging trolleys and scanning the docks for the yacht scheduled to carry them to Cyprus, and from there, to anywhere but here,” Haaretz newspaper wrote. 
According to Facebook groups, “hundreds” of settlers are attempting to leave in this way. 
In Herzliya and other marinas such as Haifa and Ashkelon, owners of small yachts have been organizing trips with groups of up to 10 passengers.
Israel’s population and immigration authority has not yet been able to determine the scale of the phenomenon, according to Haaretz.
There are at least 100 people who have prepared to set sail. Some do not live in the Israeli occupied territories, while others are meeting up with family members abroad. “Only a few admit they are fleeing the threat of Iranian missile attacks.”
“None are willing to speak openly, and almost all say they’re leaving because they have no choice,” the report says. “We’re tired of the missiles,” an Israeli preparing to set sail is quoted as saying.
About 150,000 settlers are stranded abroad due to Tel Aviv’s war on Iran and the shutdown of all flights caused by Iranian retaliatory missile strikes against Israel.
Israeli authorities have launched a repatriation plan to bring back settlers abroad. Rescue flights are not expected to start before June 19 at the earliest.
Authorities have also barred Israeli settlers from flying out of the occupied territories during wartime. 
Meanwhile, the repatriation plan has faced criticism. Oz Berlowitz, the CEO of the Arkia airline, said, “At this rate, the return of all Israelis could take many weeks and even longer,” and called it “far from providing a real solution to the situation.”
The repatriation plan and order to bar settlers from leaving come as Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and military have been issuing urgent warnings calling for the evacuation of all settlers and an intensification of missile attacks.
Israel launched a massive military campaign against the Islamic Republic early on June 13, declaring that its goal is to destroy the Iranian nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities. Several top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists have been killed, as well as hundreds of civilians, including dozens of women and children.
In response, Iran launched Operation True Promise 3 – which, since Friday evening, has seen multiple Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks target sites across the occupied territories.
Iranian missiles have targeted Israeli bases such as Glilot and Nevatim, as well as oil pipelines in Haifa and an Israeli war ministry building in Tel Aviv.
Recent ballistic missile attacks on Israel have caused unprecedented destruction across Tel Aviv and Haifa. Dozens have been killed and hundreds injured.
Tehran has vowed to intensify its strikes if Israel continues the war.
“The scope of the devastating response by brave Iranian fighters will cover all areas of the occupied territories,” an Iranian army spokesperson said, warning that “real operations” have only just begun.
“We advise you to leave [Tel Aviv] immediately for your safety and security – and never return,” the IRGC said in a statement.