The U.S. State Department has facilitated the evacuation of nearly 1,000 American citizens and their families from Israel to Europe since Friday. Despite offering over 4,000 seats on government-chartered flights and sea transport, these options have typically been utilized at half capacity or less. The department plans to continue operating flights from Tel Aviv to Athens until at least Thursday.
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In response to the violent outbreak on October 7, where Hamas fighters killed 1,300 Israelis, primarily civilians, U.S. airlines have increased flights to Athens and upsized aircraft to accommodate Americans returning from Israel. A ship was also made available on Monday for Americans wishing to depart from Haifa to Cyprus. Over 3,000 U.S. citizens have reported successful departures from Israel and the West Bank through various means. The State Department is continuously monitoring the demand for assistance in leaving Israel.
The state of Florida collaborated with a non-profit organization to charter a flight that brought back more than 270 Americans from Israel, with more flights planned for this week. Meanwhile, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines have temporarily suspended direct flights to Israel.
On Friday, over 30 U.S. lawmakers urged the CEOs of these airlines to resume flights to Tel Aviv as soon as possible. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma revealed last week that the U.S. government had received approximately 17,000 inquiries about travel assistance from Israel.
