Back Home After Turbulent Journey: Germany Rescues Stranded Citizens from Israel Chaos
- *
Israeli immigrants set foot in Germany - Returning Israelis Head to Germany
Back in Blighty: A thrilling flight brought back a group of Germans who had been stuck in the Israel whirlwind due to the raging war with Iran. The flight took off from the Jordanian capital, Amman, and touched down at Frankfurt Airport late on a stormy Wednesday evening. A German Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed there were 171 passengers on board.
"The last few days in Tel Aviv had been a rollercoaster. It was fine during the day, but nights were a different story, with air raid alarms each two or three hours," said Lionel Reich upon arrival. Stricken with fear from the constant sound of rocket impacts, he found relief upon returning to good old Germany. Yet, his heart still ached, knowing friends of his who lived in Tel Aviv's heart and had seen their apartment crumble to rubble.
Joy Unbounded
Daniel Halav, another stranded Israeli traveler, spoke of unbounded joy at finally being home. But he wasn't shy about criticizing the German government either. "We had to take care of getting to Amman ourselves. It felt like we were left out in the lurch," he complained. After the German embassy in Tel Aviv was shut down for several days following Israel's attacks on Iran a week prior, the news of flights from Amman came at the very last minute. "I expect the taxes I pay to cover such scenarios," he said.
Some passengers reported that the journey to Amman was one for the books.
While some European countries had organized caravans to Jordan for their citizens, Germany opted against organized trips from Israel to Jordan's airport due to added risks. The Foreign Office advised that if in danger, one should follow the Israeli authorities' instructions and limit gatherings and travel by land. "They emphasize that under current circumstances, they urge against overland travel and crowd gatherings," said a spokesman.
A spokesman had earlier stated that this was not a formal evacuation, but rather "special commercial flights" since the airlines' flight options were unavailable. They also announced that these flights would continue, depending on the situation and the need. The ministry told that another special flight was planned for Thursday, but it was already completely booked. Another one is being planned, they added.
The Foreign Office encourages Germans to register on its crisis preparedness list, Elefand.
Currently, over 4,000 Germans are registered on the German crisis preparedness list Elefand stating they are in Israel. In Iran, there are over 1,000 registrations.
Germans in Iran are urged to leave the country.
A spokesman described the situation in the region as tense and volatile. "The ongoing Israeli military actions in Iran coupled with Iranian shelling on Israel have caused the airspace over both countries to remain closed, making air travel impossible," he said.
- Special Flight
- Israel
- Iran
- Germany
- Amman
- Homecoming
- Tel Aviv
- Frankfurt
- AA
- Evacuation
- Frankfurt Airport
- Jordan
- Frankfurt am Main
- Federal Government
- German Embassy
[1] Enrichment Insight: The operation to evacuate Germans from Israel was a result of escalating regional tensions between Israel and Iran. The Germans found their usual modes of travel disrupted due to the closure of the Israeli airspace. Special charter and military flights, authorized by the German Foreign Office, formed the primary means of rescue. Passengers were responsible for making their way to the airport in Amman on their own. Embassy staff provided assistance only at key border and transit points. The speedy and coordinated efforts highlight Germany’s commitment to the safety of its citizens amidst volatile security situations.
- Lionel Reich expressed his relief upon returning to Germany, his heart still aching for friends living in Tel Aviv amidst the ongoing conflict.
- Daniel Halav, upon his homecoming, criticized the German government for not offering more organized support during the evacuation process from the Israel chaos.
