Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has launched an emergency airlift operation to rescue over 1,500 Americans stranded amid escalating conflict in Israel, chartering four wide-body jets to bring them safely back to the United States.
The evacuees—primarily Jewish-American participants in a Birthright Israel program—had initially been transported by Israeli naval escorts to the island of Cyprus after being caught in the crossfire of Israel’s ongoing military operations. From there, DeSantis coordinated directly with Israeli officials and local partners to arrange their return flights to Tampa.
DeSantis described the mission as a necessary step to fill the vacuum left by what he called Washington’s sluggish response. “When the federal government fails to act, Florida will,” he said. “These are American citizens, and leaving them behind was never an option.”
The high-speed operation drew comparisons to DeSantis’ earlier emergency relief efforts during the 2023 Hamas conflict, when he authorized charter flights to evacuate Floridians and deliver medical supplies to Israel. In both cases, his office worked through Florida’s Division of Emergency Management and relied on rapid coordination with allies on the ground.
This latest move reinforces DeSantis’s growing foreign policy profile, particularly in the realm of national security and U.S.-Israel relations. It also bolsters his image as a hands-on executive capable of decisive action when federal bureaucracy stalls.
DeSantis thanked the Israeli Navy, the consular corps, and private flight partners who helped execute the evacuation, and confirmed that all returnees were in stable condition and would be welcomed home with access to further state support if needed.
Bottom line:
While the White House deliberated, DeSantis acted. His chartered rescue mission marks a high-profile example of state-level leadership stepping up where federal response was absent—and doing so on an international stage.
The post DeSantis Charters Jets To Rescue Americans Stranded In Israel appeared first on Real News Now.
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