Poland And Brazil Evacuate Citizens Amid Chaos In Israel

The situation in Israel has deteriorated rapidly since October 7, 2023, when Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, launched a surprise attack with thousands of rockets, causing widespread damage and casualties. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have retaliated with airstrikes and ground operations, but the conflict shows no sign of abating. Many countries have issued travel warnings and advised their citizens to leave Israel as soon as possible. However, with most commercial flights suspended and airports under threat, evacuating is not an easy task. That's why some countries have decided to send their own air forces to rescue their nationals from the war-torn region. Poland and Brazil are among the most active and generous in this regard, dispatching several military and state aircraft to Tel Aviv to transport their citizens back home.

Poland's VIP and special forces evacuation

Poland has a long and complicated history with Israel, dating back to the Holocaust and the subsequent migration of many Polish Jews to the newly established state. Today, there are about 4,000 Polish citizens living in Israel, mostly working in the fields of education, culture, and tourism. Many of them have expressed a desire to return to Poland amid the chaos. The Polish government has responded swiftly and decisively, sending military aircraft, including the Polish Air Force (PAF) Boeing 737, typically reserved for VIP transport, as confirmed by the Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller on October 9, 2023. The PAF Boeing 737 can carry up to 96 passengers and has a range of over 10,000 km. It is equipped with advanced communication and navigation systems, as well as defensive countermeasures.

The PAF Boeing 737 is not the only aircraft involved in the evacuation mission. The Polish government has also authorized the deployment of a 200-strong Polish Military Contingent and special forces to supervise the evacuation¹. They are using C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, which can carry up to 92 passengers or 74 paratroopers. The C-130 Hercules can also perform airdrops and short takeoffs and landings on unprepared runways. So far, a total of 268 Polish nationals have successfully returned to Warsaw. The Polish government has praised the professionalism and courage of the PAF and the special forces for their role in the operation.

Brazil's Humanitarian Airlift

Brazil has a large and diverse population of over 210 million people, of which about 120,000 are of Jewish descent. Many of them have relatives or friends in Israel, and some have dual citizenship. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, over 1,000 Brazilians have expressed a desire to leave Israel amid the crisis². Unfortunately, at least two Brazilian citizens are missing, raising fears of kidnappings by Palestinian terrorists. The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has stepped up to help its citizens in need, sending its Airbus A330-200 capable of carrying up to 242 passengers to Tel Aviv². The FAB A330-200 is a multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft that can perform aerial refueling, cargo transport, troop transport, and medical evacuation missions. It has a range of over 14,000 km and can fly at speeds of up to Mach 0.86. For this mission, the FAB A330-200 will seat a maximum of 230 citizens, with military medics and psychologists to assist the evacuees. The FAB has also dispatched two Embraer KC-390 Millennium