The two entered the water in an area without a lifeguard, and were carried out to sea by strong winds, according to Israeli media.
The search teams were assisted by a police helicopter and a thermal drone, along with a tourist vessel that is used its strong search lights to assist the team in the physical search.
According to the reports, while technically it is impossible to drown on the Dead Sea, a prolonged stay in its waters is dangerous due to exhaustion that may lead to swallowing excessive amounts of saltwater, which can lead to edema in the lungs.
Some 25 civil and military search and rescue personnel began searching for the two, who were finally sighted by the thermal drone two km. away from shore.
The hikers told the search and rescue teams they arrived from Ramallah and Bethlehem for vacation and entered the water around 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening. They were given first aid upon being found by Red Crescent paramedics and transferred to a local hospital in mild condition.