Even as rockets fell over homes and cities, planeloads of immigrants continued to land at Ben-Gurion Airport. Last week, 225 new immigrants from North America arrived in Israel, stepping off from the 65th Nefesh B’Nefesh (literally meaning Soul-to-Soul) charter Aliyah flight. It was a partnership between Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Jewish Agency for Israel, and Karen Kayemeth LeIsrael (Jewish National Fund). This does not mean that no one immigrated to Israel during the period; individuals and small-scale groups continued to arrive, and personal migration still occurred. Their arrival tells a powerful statement: in times of crisis, Jews are still choosing to make Israel their home. The El Al was the first charter flight for mass Aliyah since the 7 October Hamas attack.
Aliyah, or immigration of Jews from the diaspora to Israel, is a core concept of Zionism. Upon their arrival in Israel, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration assists the new immigrants in integrating into all aspects of Israeli society. As of 2024, Israel holds the world’s largest Jewish population, constituting around 7.3 million (46%) out of 15.8 million total Jewish population.
However, the story of Jews migrating to Israel is not only about arrival but also about departures. After the 7 October incident, Israel is also facing a population crisis whereby many Israelis are leaving for other countries, also known as “Negative Migration.” According to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, 2024 saw a decline in population growth in Israel, recorded at 1.1 percent compared to 1.6 percent last year, due to negative migration. The statistics of the Knesset Research and Information Centre between 2009 and 2022 show that the average emigration per year was 36,000. In 2022 alone, 55,300 Israelis left for other countries, a 46 percent increase from 2021. Similarly, 82,700 Israelis left the country in 2024, marking a 50 percent increase from 2023. The data also shows that the Russians, Georgians, and Belarusians hold the largest percentage of emigrants from Israel.
At the same time, the global events continue to push new waves of immigration to Israel. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, there was a sudden rise in immigration, mainly from Russia. In 2022 alone, the number of immigrants tripled from the previous year. This massive jump was primarily due to the immigrants coming from Russia. However, immigration has slowed in recent years; according to the Jewish Agency, 32,281 new immigrants were registered in 2024, and this was 31 percent less than in 2023, which was 47,013.
At the same time, North America and France have become bright spots. The immigration from North America saw a massive rise of 20 percent or 2,900 immigrants in 2024. This number also dropped to 800 in the first six months of 2025, while it is expected to increase as Nefesh B’Nefesh is set to bring 1,000 more North American immigrants in the coming days. Meanwhile, immigration from France remains positive, with 2,000 Jews migrating in 2024, followed by 750 in the first half of 2025, despite the turmoil.
The dynamic of push-pull factors reveals a more profound picture of immigration. Aliyah is and has always been a central pillar for Israel’s demography, but its continued flow is not guaranteed. For some, making Aliyah is an act of faith, resilience, and return to the homeland. For others, emigration is necessary to escape security concerns, economic hardships, or political instabilities in Israel. Both these factors shape Israel’s future.
The question is not only about how many Jews are brought to Israel, but also about how many choose to remain. The El Al charter flight landing at Ben Gurion Airport is inspiring, but it is only part of a large story. The quieter departures of families moving to Berlin, Toronto, or New York are equally important. Israel stands at a demographic crossroads. Welcoming new immigrants is crucial, and building a society where both newcomers and existing citizens feel secure enough to stay is vital. This includes addressing existing problems in housing, the economy, and personal safety, which have been shaken since 7 October.
According to World Bank data, Israel's net migration–overall balance between immigrants and emigrants–for 2022 was 50,004, a massive 196.6 percent increase from 2021. But for 2023, it was 9,999, an 80 percent decline from 2022. For 2024, the net migration was 10,613, almost a 6.13 percent increase from 2023. This highlights that since 7 October 2023, immigration has steadily increased over emigration and that the conflict has not had much impact on immigration to Israel, and expected to grow with more immigrants in the upcoming days.
For Israel, Aliyah has been a cornerstone of its identity even before the state was formed. However, nation-building is a more complex task that immigration alone cannot achieve. The true measure of a nation’s strength is not the number of people who arrive, but the number who choose to stay because a country’s future is defined by creating a society worth holding to.
The author is a doctoral candidate at the Centre for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.