Biden is launching AIRLIFT to ferry thousands of Americans on charter flights from Israel and place them in Europe to avoid rocket attacks from the terrorist group Hamas
Spread the love The United States is launching an airlift of charter flights to bring thousands of Americans out of Israel and avoid rocket attacks from the Palestinian terror group … The United States is launching an airlift of charter flights to bring thousands of Americans out of Israel and place them in Europe to avoid rocket attacks from the terrorist group Hamas. Commercial airlines will make the planes available from Friday, but fleeing Americans will only be taken as far as Europe. This comes after other nations, including Britain, which are flying their citizens home. The announcement comes as Israel continues to come under daily rocket fire from Gaza, while several other nations have begun operating flights to bringing their people home. House Representative Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) is among those who have urged the administration to begin organizing anAirlift to bring home Americans and dual citizens seeking to return to the United States.
Published : 2 years ago by admin in Travel Politics General
The United States is launching an airlift of charter flights to bring thousands of Americans out of Israel and avoid rocket attacks from the Palestinian terror group Hamas.
Commercial airlines will make the planes available from Friday, but fleeing Americans will only be taken as far as Europe.
This came after Biden faced pressure to follow the example of other nations, including Britain, which are flying their citizens home.
U.S. officials estimate that 160,000 to 170,000 Americans are in Israel as residents and tourists. or in other functions.
There will be at least four charter flights per day taking Americans out of the country.
The US Embassy in Israel said: “It will take some time to plan everyone who wants to leave.” Transport will be by air to Athens or Frankfurt or by sea from Haifa to Cyprus. You can’t choose your destination – we’ll assign you to the next available flight or ship.
“You should be ready to leave within 8 to 12 hours of receiving the booking confirmation. “Each traveler is allowed one small piece of carry-on baggage weighing no more than 22 pounds (10 kg) and one suitcase weighing no more than 35 pounds (16 kg),” the embassy said.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said: “The president has asked his team to ensure that we help US citizens who want to leave Israel and provide them with a safe way to do so.”
The Biden administration is arranging charter flights and sea voyages to ferry Americans from Israel, which continues to be under rocket fire from Hamas as it masses troops on the Gaza border
Kirby said the government was still “working out the details” to help U.S. citizens and their “immediate family members” who were unable to find commercial transit.
He mentioned ways to get the Americans out “by land and sea.”
The announcement comes as Israel continues to come under daily rocket fire from Gaza, while several other nations have begun operating flights to bring their people home.
American, Delta and United Airlines are among the airlines that have suspended flights to Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv, leaving Americans and other foreigners desperate to leave the country.
House Representative Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) is among those who have urged the administration to begin organizing an airlift to bring home Americans and dual citizens seeking to return to the United States
“You are already seeing that other governments, including Poland, are sending military planes to get their citizens out of Israel in the face of war.” And I think we must take all measures to bring people home as quickly as possible, both with commercial flights as well as military aircraft,” he said.
President Biden is under pressure to organize an airlift to get Americans and dual citizens out of Israel amid continued rocket attacks and a rising death toll following Saturday’s Hamas attack
In addition to Poland, Great Britain, France and Germany are also among the countries that organize flights home.
“This is going to escalate very quickly,” he told CNN. “And I stand 100 percent with Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu.” They have to eliminate Hamas, they have to destroy it. They are a terrorist organization determined to wipe Israel from the face of the earth, sponsored and supported by Iran. And we must take this threat seriously.”
Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, national security spokesman John Kirby said there were still commercial flights and “viable ground routes,” while pointing to “ongoing discussions” about organizing a way out.
“The State Department is in active contact with American citizens in Israel – as you know, many of whom have dual nationality – to ensure that a) we have the connection and b) that we know whether “you have concerns if they want to go,” he said.
“I think we need to take every action to get people home as quickly as possible,” said Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.)
“So we are in active discussions with the Americans on the ground.” Currently, there are still commercial airlines – not all, but some – that fly to and from Ben Gurion every day. There are still viable ground routes. “If you want to leave Israel safely, this is also an option for you,” he said.
“But none of these options may be necessarily feasible or affordable for certain Americans. That’s why we’re actively exploring a number of other options to help Americans if they want to leave. I’m just not at liberty to go into more detail now.”
The administration has not yet reserved plans to activate the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, in which the Pentagon organizes private airlines to bring Americans home during a security crisis. The program was used during the hectic US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Americans remain trapped in Gaza as Israel has assembled a reserve force of 300,000 on the border in response to a possible ground invasion.
The government says it is working to establish a possible humanitarian corridor to allow civilians to leave, but there are huge logistical challenges.
Topics: Crime, Joe Biden, Israel, Terrorism