Florida’s Evacuation Efforts from Israel Continue
Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida welcomed the arrival of a second evacuation flight from Israel on Friday, greeting returning passengers in Tampa as part of a state-led rescue initiative.
This operation involved cooperation with the Florida Department of Emergency Management and Grable Rescue, along with Senator Jacolins and others. Among those evacuated were Newsweek editor Josh Hammer, his wife, their six-month-old daughter, university students, and participants in programs like K-12 and Israeli birthrights. Since the terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7th, DeSantis has facilitated the evacuation of over 1,500 people, as mentioned in a recent social media post.
“This isn’t easy,” DeSantis stated at Tampa International Airport. “There are logistical challenges. It wasn’t an easy journey for these people. They had to board a cruise ship, wait in Cyprus, and navigate various hurdles along the way.”
He continued, indicating that more rescues are necessary. “I understand that other states may wish to get involved at this point. The reality is, more assistance is still needed.”
DeSantis also reflected on the personal impact of the mission. “When you talk to parents who have school-age and college kids over there, there’s a lot of concern. We are committed to leading these efforts to bring them back to Florida safely. It’s essential, and we intend to see it through.”
Kevin Guthrie, the Florida State Emergency Management Director, provided details on the ongoing operations. “We have conducted two rescue flights and one cruise ship mission that reunited Florida and American families. Today, we successfully transported over 300 individuals and arranged more than 1,100 ferry rides.”
Guthrie expressed gratitude for the dedication of the team involved, including Senator Jay Collins and Gray Bull CEO Brian Stern, who worked tirelessly over about 120 hours.
Josh Hammer, who traveled to Israel for a family wedding, conveyed his appreciation for the efforts. “It’s not my usual approach to be in a war zone. But my main concern is my six-month-old daughter. That’s why I reached out to Senator Collins when I saw his tweet about Gray Bull’s operations. It’s a privilege to have Governor Ron DeSantis leading these efforts, a true friend to both Florida and the Jewish people.”
When asked about the evacuees’ reactions, DeSantis conveyed how thankful everyone was. “These are real people, in serious situations. Parents, especially, will do everything possible to protect their young children, be they two years old or six months old.”
He noted that this is not the first time Florida has stepped up. “After the events of October 7, 2023, we managed to bring back nearly 1,000 individuals, primarily from Florida, and several others as well.”
