The first in a series of flights from war-torn Israel ordered by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis landed in Tampa on Sunday night, carrying 270 Americans returning from the Jewish state.
DeSantis and his wife, Casey, greeted evacuees with hugs and handshakes as they disembarked.
Seven people were also brought to Orlando as part of the operation, the governor’s office announced.
DeSantis, a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, ordered the flights last week to bring back Americans stuck in Israel due to commercial flight cancellations following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas.
“There were people who were really struggling to get out of the war zone and they weren’t getting help from the State Department,” DeSantis told WHO Radio Des Moines’ “Simon Conway Show.” “I told him, ‘Look, you have to go, I’ll lead.’”
The governor greeted the evacuees after their landing.X / @Project_Dynamo1
“We’re going to have another plane loaded with probably several hundred, and maybe even a third, we’ll see what the demand is,” the governor added.
“One of the things that stood out is the number of children we were able to bring back. I mean, there were all of them on that plane, probably about a third of kids.”
Florida partnered with the nonprofit group Project DYNAMO to help organize the flights. The DeSantis administration did not immediately disclose how much the operation cost taxpayers.
Project DYNAMO is a nonprofit rescue organization based in Tampa.
The governor’s team did note that passengers were not billed for the flights.
The rescue operation came as many major airlines, including American, Delta and United, suspended flights to and from the Jewish state amid the conflict.
Meanwhile, the State Department last week announced plans to charter flights for Americans stuck in Israel as the conflict continues, although details remain scarce.
Flights to and from Israel have been limited due to the ongoing war. X/@Project_Dynamo1
DeSantis, 45, criticized President Biden, 80, for publicly suggesting there was “a leadership vacuum” in helping constituents trapped in a war zone.
“I am proud of how quickly we have been able to activate resources and do what the federal government could not: get Floridians and other Americans home, reunited with their families, for free,” DeSantis said in a statement. on Sunday.
The governor of the Sunshine State signed an executive order on October 12 authorizing the Florida Division of Emergency Management to “conduct logistics, rescue and evacuation operations to keep its residents safe.”
His administration estimated last week that more than 20,000 Americans were trapped in Israel as the war raged.
In addition to rescue operations, the governor’s office has revealed plans to send medical supplies, toys and other goods to those affected by the war.
The Hamas attack led Israel to declare war for the first time since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Ron DeSantis has long been a strong supporter of Israel.AP
At least 30 Americans were killed in the terrorist attack and 13 are missing, according to the State Department.
Israel is expected to launch a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, home to Tehran-backed Hamas terrorists, at any time.
DeSantis has strongly supported Israel and visited the Jewish state in April, weeks before launching his campaign.
“It’s not collective punishment,” DeSantis said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation” about the possible Israeli campaign.
“Hamas is the one who is creating this situation. Hamas is the one who always uses civilian targets to carry out operations.”
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Source: vtt.edu.vn