Stuck in Israel on a pilgrim trip or a business event? Sucks to be you. Just like in Afghanistan, the State department wants money to assist US Citizens to get out of harm’s way. Harm’s way that was absolutely unpredictable as the terrorist attack caught all agencies flatfooted including ours.
US STATE DEPARTMENT TELLS CITIZENS STUCK IN ISRAEL IT MAY HELP THEM EVACUATE – BUT ONLY IF THEY SIGN A PROMISSARY NOTE. pic.twitter.com/PfFI0i5mk1
— The Meturgeman (@HaMeturgeman) October 11, 2023
One man didn’t wait
Florida Rep. Cory Mills missed the first round of votes for a new Speaker of the House as he was in Israel hauling people out of dangerous areas and sending them home. An Iraq war veteran, Mills helped rescue 32 Americans trapped in Israel after it came under attack from Hamas terrorists over the weekend, the lawmaker said.
Mills, who served with the 82nd Airborne Division while deployed in Iraq, said he was unable to share more details about the rescue mission or its location due to operational concerns and constraints, the outlet reported.
He did tell the station that some of the Americans he led to safety had become stuck in areas of the country that now lack a “permissible environment” for a full escape.
The lawmaker decided to go to Israel himself after noticing the Biden administration had not announced any on-the-ground plans to bring US citizens home.
He did the same thing with trapped individuals in Afghanistan in 2021 after President Biden decided to withdraw from the country.
WOW: Rep. @CoryMillsFL is on the ground in Israel personally helping evacuate Americans trapped there following terrorist attacks by Hamas
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 11, 2023
Mills says he was able to rescue 32 Americans, but “hundreds” are still trapped.
Two years ago, he also travelled to Afghanistan to rescue… pic.twitter.com/xieUjBCuVR
The Brits do it differently
Today we are providing a UK-sponsored flight to help British nationals leave Israel.
— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) October 12, 2023
Vulnerable British nationals will be prioritised for these flights. After this, seats will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
We are directly contacting those who are eligible to… pic.twitter.com/m3WkHXqSh1