Florida’s Israel ‘Rescue’ Operation Brings Nearly 700 Americans Home

So far, 4 flights have evacuated stranded citizens and two cargo planes have delivered 85 pallets of supplies.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at Tampa International Airport on Oct. 15, 2023. CNN/Screenshot via NTD

Florida governor Ron DeSantis’s office confirmed on Oct. 24 that nearly 700 Americans have returned home from Israel over the previous 10 days, thanks to the state’s own evacuation efforts.

The Sunshine State’s Israel Rescue Operations have, so far, included four passenger flights and two cargo flights carrying 85 pallets of donated supplies bound for hospitals and government agencies.

In partnership with Operation Dynamo, a veteran-led and donor-fed international rescue non-profit organization—and in coordination with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Florida Department of Emergency Management—Americans were located, flown free, and processed through U.S. Customs and Border Patrol upon arrival.

A Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) was established at Tampa International Airport to connect evacuees to any necessities they might require, and an offsite Family Reunification Center was established by FDOT and the Department of Children and Families.

Coordination of flight logistics and operations was also assisted by the Florida Division of Law Enforcement.

The Sunshine State received 270 passengers on Oct. 15. Another 47 arrived on Oct. 18.

The early morning hours of Oct. 19 saw 243 evacuees arrive stateside, and another 118 arrived on Oct. 23.

Orlando International Airport was also tapped to coordinate a flight of seven passengers on Oct. 15, as well as what the governor’s office describes as “other individual commercial flights.”

Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system intercepts a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, Israel, on Oct. 17, 2023. Tsafrir Abayov/AP Photo

Mr. DeSantis signed Executive Order 23-208 on Oct. 12 that directed Florida emergency funds and resources to start pulling the estimated 20,000 Americans out of the escalating war zone in the Middle East.

Shortly thereafter, his administration expanded the order to offer assistance to Americans from other states who were left “stranded” by the federal government in Athens, Greece.

“They’re dumping these people in Greece, and then they’re charging them for the transportation,” he told an audience of potential South Carolina voters on Oct. 20.

“And I’m thinking to myself, ‘Well, wait a minute, you come across that southern border, they will fly you all over the country free of charge. They’ll put you up in hotels free of charge as an illegal. But somehow an American citizen fleeing a war zone, you’re gonna then send them a bill for this?

“Talk about putting Americans last.”

‘Why Pay For An Embassy?’

And, while campaigning for his presidential bid in Iowa on Oct. 21, he confirmed that more than Floridians were being rescued.

“So it’s mostly Floridians,” he told The Epoch Times during the post-event press gathering. “But I think our view is if people—Americans—are desperate, we’re all Americans. And so we’ve helped.

“We’ve picked people up in Greece and brought them back ... now we fly everyone back to Florida, and then some of them have gone to New Jersey or whatnot. So, there have been Americans from other states. We’re happy to help with that.”

The governor’s office did not respond to The Epoch Times’ inquiry for further details into how many non-Floridians were being rescued before the publication of this article on Oct. 25.

A demonstrator holds up the flags of Israel and the United States during a rally in support of Israel outside the Colorado State Capitol Building in Denver, Colo., on Oct. 15, 2023. Jason Connolly/AFP via Getty Images

The struggle continues for Americans trying to get home from Israel, including those who are looking to the federal government and the United States Embassy for help, as Mr. DeSantis’ executive order estimated that more than 20,000 Americans were left in the warring state after major commercial airlines suspended operations flights.

Virginia residents Quigg Lawrence, an Anglican bishop, and his wife Annette, shared their journey home with The Epoch Times after flying into Israel on Oct. 7—the day Hamas launched its attack into Israel, raping, killing, and kidnapping more than 200 citizens, Israeli, American, and others.

The couple said the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem denied them shelter, refused to help them leave the country, and would not even provide the embassy’s address.

When they were able to secure flights home—a 46-hour route with stops in Ethiopia, Ireland, and Chicago at the cost of thousands of dollars—they found themselves on a flight with 55 Ethiopian immigrants bound for America.

“I’m pro-immigrant, but it’s ironic that U.S. citizens couldn’t get our government to lift a finger, let alone talk to us, while refugees on a paid flight are coming from Ethiopia,” the bishop said.

He also criticized his treatment by the embassy, saying: “Why pay for an embassy when they won’t respond to the needs of their citizens?”

Dan Berger contributed to this report.