Luftwaffe flies 179 Germans from Israel: lifesavers in the sky!

Luftwaffe flies 179 Germans from Israel: lifesavers in the sky!

Amid the current tensions in the Middle East, the Bundeswehr has intensified its activities to allow German nationals to leave Israel. Two Airbus military planes from the Luftwaffe were flown out at the weekend, bringing more than 200 people, including many families, to Germany. These flights took place in close coordination with the Israeli authorities and were specifically organized for vulnerable people who had expressed their desire to leave the country. On June 24th, 179 passengers who were flown out of Ben-Gurion Airport landed in Frankfurt am Main, as reported by Deutschlandfunk.

In the last few days the situation has become more tense. The federal government reported that over 500 German citizens and close relatives from Jordan and Israel had already been brought to Germany. Due to the ongoing crisis, the airspace in the region is largely closed, making it significantly more difficult to leave the country. Although civilians in Gaza have more time to reach safety, chaos and insecurity remain high.

Current developments in the conflict

The last few days have been marked by military clashes that have also affected the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura. There was a rocket strike on Sunday evening, but fortunately no one was injured. The United Nations has already launched an investigation into the origin of the shelling. In addition, military activities in the region are intensifying: Israeli forces have gathered additional units around the Gaza Strip, while the start of the ground offensive has been delayed due to poor weather conditions, as DBWV reports.

In this tense environment, Chancellor Olaf Scholz is traveling to Israel and Egypt on Tuesday. He is the first head of government to travel to the region since the Hamas terror attack on October 7th. Scholz would like to send a signal of solidarity and work for the release of around 200 hostages. A meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planned, followed by talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Air force in action

The Air Force has flown Germans directly out of Israel several times since the conflict began around a week ago. A total of 64 people were on board on the first flights, including families with small children. These flights were called “diplomatic pickups” and took place in Tel Aviv under special permits. On June 21st, the planes landed at Cologne/Bonn Airport, against the backdrop of such a military conflict. Previous flights brought Germans and their relatives back to Germany via Jordan with the help of the Foreign Office without being able to take off directly from Israel, as Tagesschau explains.

The situation remains tense and it can be assumed that the federal government will continue to do everything in its power to ensure the safety and return of its citizens in the future. The Air Force will continue to be active to help those who find themselves in a precarious situation. During the crisis, communication with the Israeli authorities remains of great importance in order to make the departure as smooth as possible.