Florida Governor Ron DeSantis coordinated the evacuation of approximately 1,500 American citizens stranded in the war zone. The initiative involved chartering four jets to bring the travelers mostly young Jewish Americans participating in a Birthright Israel program safely back to the United States through Tampa International Airport.

The participants had initially fled Israel by sea, boarding a cruise ship bound for Cyprus in the Mediterranean. From there, they boarded emergency flights bound for Tampa, as Florida’s Division of Emergency Management worked closely with relief groups to ensure a swift and secure operation.

In a public statement, the Florida Division of Emergency Management confirmed it was “actively coordinating efforts to assist Americans seeking evacuation from the hostile situation in Israel,” underscoring the urgency and complexity of the mission. Governor DeSantis personally greeted some of the returnees upon their arrival in Tampa, reinforcing Florida’s support for U.S. citizens caught in overseas crises.

The Birthright Israel program, which offers free trips to Israel for young Jewish adults to explore their cultural and historical roots, saw hundreds of its participants affected by the sudden outbreak of violence. With the security situation rapidly deteriorating, many found themselves in precarious conditions far from home.