13 minutes agoU.S. prepares for Israel's evacuation of Americans
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)The US president's administration, Joe Biden, is expected to soon announce that the US government will launch Israel's evacuation operation to enable Americans to fly out of Israel. This development comes at a time when Israel has warned that it is preparing to escalate revenge action against the Palestinian militants of Hamas in [...]
The US president's administration, Joe Biden, is expected to soon announce that the US government will launch Israel's evacuation operation to enable Americans to fly out of Israel.
This development comes at a time when Israel has warned that it is preparing to escalate revenge action against the Palestinian Hamas militants at the Gaza Strip, two sources for the AP agency said.
Israel's flights, with Americans wanting to leave, are expected to begin Friday, sources that spoke on condition of anonymity said.
The US government is preparing to realise at least four flights a day from Israel to Frankfurt, Germany.
Several commercial planes are still operating from Ben Stone Airport in Tel Aviv, and land routes to leave Israel are also open.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday that the administration was examining “certain options” to help Americans who want to leave Israel.
American authorities have confirmed that at least 25 American citizens are among the more than 1,200 killed in Israel since Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7th.
The White House has also confirmed that some Americans are among the dozens Hamas has taken as hostages.
On October 12th, American State Secretary Antony Blinken visited Israel, where he met with the prime minister of this state, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The visit of the U.S. chief diplomat to Israel was aimed at showing support for Israel but also in supporting the efforts to free the hostages.
Blinken also said Americans would continue to seek safe corridors to get in and out of Gaza, which could help hundreds of American civilians who may be trapped in the Gaza Strip during the fighting.
Since Hamas militants carried out sudden land, air, and sea attacks on Israel, the latter has reacted sharply with continuing bombings at the Gaza Strip, where more than 2 million Palestinians live.
Israeli authorities, who have declared war conditions, have also warned that they are preparing for a possible land invasion of Gaza, which has been led by Hamas since 2007. / REL
