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Jalen Hall flees Israel as Iran conflict forces evacuation of US basketball players

From 15 emergency shelters in one day to a harrowing exit—how one American athlete escaped war-torn Israel. His journey home took three continents and eight days.

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The image shows a man shooting a basketball in front of a crowd of people in a stadium. The man is...
The image shows a man shooting a basketball in front of a crowd of people in a stadium. The man is wearing a black and yellow jersey with the words "Golden State Warriors" written on it, indicating that he is a player for the Warriors. The stadium is filled with people sitting in the stands, and the ceiling is illuminated with bright lights. There are also railings and boards with words written on them, likely indicating the score of the game.

Jalen Hall flees Israel as Iran conflict forces evacuation of US basketball players

American basketball player Jalen Hall has safely left Israel after the recent escalation in conflict between Israel and Iran. The former Michigan State athlete had been playing for Ironi Kiryat Ata B.C. when airstrikes and missile attacks forced him to flee. His evacuation was organised by the Israeli Basketball Premier League, which helped guide him and other US players out of the country.

Hall arrived in Israel six months ago and initially lived without incident. But when the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran in early March, tensions rapidly escalated. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israel, triggering widespread alerts.

On the first day of the conflict, Hall and his girlfriend took shelter 15 times as explosions rocked the area. The league had previously advised him to download the Home Front Command app, which provided real-time alerts during the crisis.

Unlike some athletes who had to arrange their own escape, Hall received step-by-step guidance from his team and the league. Their exit plan took several days to finalise. He left Israel on March 3, travelling first to Egypt, then to Belgrade, Serbia, before finally reaching Chicago on March 11.

The Israeli Basketball Premier League has not yet asked players to return. Officials are waiting for confirmed reports of a ceasefire before considering a resumption of games.

Hall now feels safe back in the US but remains in close contact with his team. He trusts the league's handling of the situation and plans to return to Israel once conditions stabilise. For now, no other US players from the league have been publicly reported as evacuated, and no specific routes or additional assistance have been confirmed.

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