The U.S. government has initiated a series of charter flights to evacuate American citizens and their immediate family members from Israel, a move confirmed by National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby. The decision comes in response to the limited availability of commercial flights out of Israel amid the ongoing conflict. The charter flights will transport evacuees to various locations in Europe. Kirby also mentioned that the government is exploring additional evacuation methods “by land and by sea.” The number of Americans killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict has risen to 27, with 15 still unaccounted for. El Al, Israel’s national airline, will also be operating flights on Saturdays for the first time since 1982 to carry military reservists and evacuate Israelis.
U.S. Government Takes Decisive Action Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict
The first U.S. flight evacuating American citizens from the war-torn region of Israel successfully landed in Athens, Greece, according to Matthew Miller, a State Department spokesperson. This move comes as a part of the U.S. government’s broader strategy to provide additional options for American citizens looking to leave Israel amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesperson, had previously announced the charter flights, emphasizing the U.S. government’s acute awareness of the limited availability of commercial flights out of Israel. “The president has asked his team to ensure that we are assisting U.S. citizens who do want to leave Israel and providing them with a safe means of doing that,” Kirby stated.
The U.S. government is not only arranging charter flights but is also “exploring other options” to expand the capacity for evacuation, including by “land and by sea,” Kirby added. This comprehensive approach comes after the confirmation that 27 Americans have been killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict, with 14 still unaccounted for.
In a similar vein, El Al, Israel’s national airline, has decided to operate flights on Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath, for the first time since 1982. The flights will carry military reservists and evacuate Israelis, a move that has been covered by the airline and contributing financial donors in the United States, Times of Israel.
The situation in Israel remains precarious, with at least 1,300 Israelis killed in Hamas’ attacks and at least 1,417 people killed in Israeli strikes, according to local Ministry of Health in Gaza.
The U.S. government’s decision to initiate charter flights has been met with a sense of urgency and necessity, given the escalating tensions and the rising death toll. The move signifies a concerted effort to safeguard American citizens and their immediate family members, offering them a viable exit strategy from a volatile region.
