Some of the Alabamians who got stuck in Israel when war broke out are now headed back home as others wait to learn when they will be able to board flights.

In a video update posted to Facebook on Monday night, the Rev. Thack Dyson of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Daphne said two of their members were about to board flights.

“We feel your prayers, we feel your support, and we think things are coming together,” Dyson said. “People are trickling out, which is a good thing.”

Dyson and 17 church members arrived in Israel last week and had just started a tour in Tel Aviv. On Saturday morning, air raid sirens blared as Palestinian militant group Hamas launched unexpected missiles and gunfire.

Once war broke out, the Alabamians moved to the north of Israel near the Sea of Galilee, where they’ve been stuck amid flight cancellations.

A group of 11 members of Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Vestavia Hills were also in Israel when the fighting began. A woman who answered the phone at the church on Tuesday afternoon told AL.com that all of their members have made it out of Israel.

“They did cross over into Jordan,” she said. “They are safe.”

She said that the church couldn’t provide more details about the group to preserve their safety.

Birmingham resident Sarah Okinedo said her mother, Judy Hale, is one of the St. Paul’s Episcopal members who went on the trip. She told AL.com on Tuesday that her mother and seven other members expect to board flights home on Wednesday. Okinedo said that her mother told her five people have already left and four more are expected to leave Thursday, barring any cancellations.

“I am praying they get home safely,” Okinedo said in an email. “I’m hopeful for a safe return above all else.”

Alabama political leaders have spoken out about getting residents back home safely. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt’s office is “directly aware of dozens of Alabamians, at minimum” who are still in Israel, even as the State Department can’t confirm an official headcount, said press secretary Mitch Rabalais.

“Over the past few days, my office and I have been in contact with Alabamians who are currently in Israel. By providing assistance, passing along information, and connecting constituents to people and resources at the State Department, we are working diligently to help bring each and every Alabamian home safely and promptly,” Britt said in a statement to AL.com. “If you or a loved one needs our help, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. We’re here to serve every resident of our great state, no matter where they may be in the world.”

Sen. Tommy Tuberville on Monday posted a link to his office’s contact form on X, formerly Twitter. He asked that people notify his office of Alabamians who need help getting out of Israel.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl said in a Yellowhammer News column on Tuesday that he’s in communication with the State Department and Alabama residents in Israel who are trying to get home.

Dyson confirmed in a video update that representatives from both U.S. Sen. Katie Britt’s and U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl’s offices have reached out to his group.

“I can’t say again, or enough rather, how much we respect and appreciate our government, especially our representatives from the state of Alabama, who have been looking after us and trying to shepherd us through this difficult time,” he said.

At least 1,600 people have been killed in Israel and the Gaza Strip since early Saturday. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war, and the Israeli military ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and the 2.3 million Palestinians living there. The siege, condemned by the United Nations Secretary-General, has halted any food, water, electricity or supplies amid continued airstrikes. Disputes over who has rights to the land have long preceded this latest conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Major U.S.-based and international airlines, including American, Delta and United, have suspended direct flights to and from Israel. The Federal Aviation Administration urged U.S. pilots to be careful while flying over Israeli airspace.

The U.S. Embassy in Israel issued guidance on Monday for U.S. citizens trying to leave Israel to monitor flights at Ben Gurion International Airport and four land border crossings between Israel and the West Bank, Jordan, and Egypt. On Monday, the Israeli military bombed the Rafah Crossing, the sole border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, and the only way out for people in Gaza.

Dyson said that his group is finding flights in different directions, including Turkey and Dubai, in order to leave Israel.

“It’s going to be an interesting adventure, but we certainly will have a story to tell when we get back,” he said. “But we will be back.”

Dyson said that he’s especially grateful for the support and help from the staff of Immanuel Tours, the company that led their tour, even as their families are living in Israel and trying to stay safe.

Immanuel Tours thanked people for their outreach and prayers in a Facebook post on Monday.

“Most importantly, all our groups are safe and our team makes sure all safety measures and needs are met so they can safely travel,” the tour group said. “We understand that there is a lot of uncertainty and please reach out if you have any questions. We are following the authorities’ guidelines and will continue to keep you informed as the situation becomes clearer.”