"Back Home, but with a Journey" German travelers return from Israel following war tension
Returning Individuals Alleviated by Israeli Assistance
The flight from the capital of Jordan, Amman, landed late in the evening at Frankfurt, Germany's largest airport. This specialized flight, organized by the Foreign Office, brought back Germans who were stuck in Israel during the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. A total of 171 individuals were aboard.
Expressing Relief and ConcernLionel Reich, one of the returnees, expressed his feelings, "The last few days in Tel Aviv were nerve-wracking and edgy. During the day, it was all right, but at night, there was an air raid alert every two or three hours." He spoke of the fear caused by the sounds of rocket impacts and the relief of being back in Germany. However, his worry remains for his friends who reside in the heart of Tel Aviv, as their abode was destroyed.
Another traveler, Daniel Halav, admitted, "I've never been so relieved to be home," but he also criticized the German government for not providing sufficient support. "We had to take matters into our own hands to reach Amman. In my opinion, we should have been looked after better by the government."
Organized Evacuation or Commercial Flights?While other European countries organized convoys for their citizens to travel to Jordan, the German Foreign Office decided against this approach, stating that it could increase risks. TheForeign Office explained that these flights are labeled "commercial special flights" because regular exit options offered by airlines were insufficient. They assured that these flights would continue as long as the situation allows and there's a need.
Registry & Future FlightsThe Foreign Office encourages Germans to register on its crisis preparedness list, "Elefand." Currently, over 4,000 Germans are registered as being in Israel, with more than 1,000 registrations coming from Iran. Plans for additional flights are underway, with a flight scheduled for the same day, although it is already fully booked.
In the case of Germans residing in Iran, the Foreign Office advises traveling overland to neighboring countries, Armenia, Turkey, or, in specific cases, Azerbaijan, to continue their journey to Germany with commercial flights. The embassy in Tehran supports exit attempts, if possible, by reaching out to Iranian authorities directly.
Data Sources:- ntv.de- mau/dpa
Categories:- Israel- Israel War- Frankfurt am Main- Foreign Office- Wars and Conflicts
- Despite the organized evacuation efforts from Germany, some individuals criticized the government's response during the war tension in Israel, citing a lack of support and relying on their own efforts to return home.
- The community policy, with the addition of the Foreign Office's evacuation efforts, has been a topic of conversation, particularly in light of the current war-and-conflicts and general-news involving Israel and Iran, and the subsequent impacts on German citizens living in those locations.
