Luftwaffe transports 64 Germans from Israel
Let's get straight to the point - the Luftwaffe, Germany's air force, has done a swifty move! On June 20, 2025, they flew out 64 of our fellow Germans from Israel using two Airbus A400M planes, in what's being dubbed a "diplomatic pickup".
Now, here's the lowdown on this operation from the German government: This wasn't a military-style evacuation requiring parliamentary approval. Instead, it was a swift, organized repatriation focusing on families with kids and other vulnerable folks. And fear not, this whole shebang was executed in close collaboration with the Israeli authorities, without the need for military intervention.
Why, you ask? It's the current volatile situation in the Middle East that's got folks scrambling to leave the region due to the ongoing war between Israel and Iran. With airspace over the conflict zones closed, skipping town ain't exactly a walk in the park. Given that, these flights are often routed through neighboring countries, with the travelers footing the bill: around 300 euros per ticket on those special flights. Oh, and there's another evacuation flight scheduled for June 21, all set to depart from Amman, Jordan. But here's the kicker, some folks apparently couldn't handle the journey there themselves, so they got airlifted straight outta Israel.
Now, let's talk politics for a minute. Both ministries were quick to clarify that their operations in Israel were indeed diplomatic and not military. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius commended the troops for their quick work. And speaking of politics, let's not forget that the border crossings from Israel to Jordan and Egypt remain open, and commercial flights are available on short notice. Israel has also committed to reopening its airspace for selected commercial flights as the situation evolves.
Last week, Israel launched a major attack on Iran, bombing nuclear facilities and military installations non-stop. Iran, in turn, has been launching rockets and drones at Israel ever since. As tensions escalate, many countries are making efforts to ensure their citizens' safe departure from the region. So, the German Luftwaffe's diplomatic pickup was one of the few instances where a foreign government used military aircraft to airlift their nationals directly from Israel during the conflict.
Long story short: The German government, in cooperation with the Luftwaffe, organized a "diplomatic pickup" to airlift 64 German citizens from Israel amid Middle East tensions. This operation aimed to prioritize families and vulnerable individuals, showcasing close collaboration between the German defense and foreign ministries and Israeli officials.
Sources: ntv.de, jwu/AFP
- Bundeswehr
- Middle East Conflict
- Ministry of Defense
- Foreign Office
- Boris Pistorius
- Israel War
- Israel
- Amidst the ongoing Middle East Conflict and the volatile political situation between Israel and Iran, the German Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, particularly in the context of military operations such as the current air evacuations by the Luftwaffe.
- Meanwhile, in the realm of general news, the diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel have been strengthened through the recent airlift operation conducted by the Luftwaffe, which added another layer to the complicated geopolitics surrounding the ongoing war and conflicts in the Middle East.
