DeSantis Charters Jets To Rescue Americans Stranded In Israel

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis chartered four flights to bring roughly 1,500 Jewish-Americans who evacuated from Israel back home to America.

The Americans on a 10-day Birthright Israel trip took an Israeli cruise vessel to Larnaca, Cyprus, while protected by the Israeli Navy. DeSantis chartered four wide-bodied jetliners to bring them from Cyprus back to Tampa, Florida, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

“The remainder of the 2,800 international participants who were in Israel when war broke out on Friday have chosen to depart via other means or have chosen to stay in Israel with family,” the Jerusalem Post reported.

Thank you to Florida governor Ron DeSantis @RonDeSantis for helping repatriate 1,500 young Americans from their birthright trips in Israel. pic.twitter.com/VlTqquSGgA

— Avi Kaner ابراهيم אבי (@AviKaner) June 17, 2025

“We have been working with the Israeli consulate, which has been in touch with the governor’s office,” Joy Prevor, vice president of projects for the Broward Jewish Federation, stated. “We are hopeful anyone who needs to get out will get out, but it is being done in a staged fashion. I just saw a video of the boat to Cyprus. It’s difficult because they were in such a stressful situation.”

“Thank God for the Iron Dome and thank God for Israel having a very developed text alert system,” she continued.

In October 2023, two weeks after the Hamas massacre of more than 1200 people in Israel, among whom were at least 30 Americans, DeSantis ordered an emergency airlift that brought home another 200 Americans. He also sent two large planes containing 85 pallets of donated supplies.

The donated Medical supplies included 735 Ace bandages, approximately 5,000 hospital gowns, 84 IV kits, 30,000+ needles, 30,000+ syringes, 57 ventilators, and 10,000+ boxes of surgical gloves. In addition to medical supplies, Florida also donated: 1,000+ children’s toys, 300+ sleeping bags, 1,000+ hygiene products, and 2,000+ articles of clothing.

DeSantis ripped the Biden administration at the time, saying, “With the lack of leadership in Washington, we are stepping up to help our allies in Israel who are in need of supplies and our support. As we continue to bring back Americans who were stranded in Israel when the war began, we will also keep sending the necessary health care supplies for Israel to care for those who have been injured.”