Germans Return Home on Special Flights Amid Middle East Conflict
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Immigrants from Israel Arrive in Germany - Germans welcome the return of Israelis
After Days of Worry: A group of Germans who found themselves stranded in Israel due to the escalating conflict with Iran have touched down in their homeland on a special flight. The plane, which departed from Amman, landed at Frankfurt Airport in the heart of Germany on Wednesday evening. The Foreign Office reports that there were 171 passengers on board.
"The past few days in Tel Aviv were nerve-wracking and tense. During the day, it was calm, but at night, an air raid alert would go off every two or three hours," said Lionel Reich upon arrival. He shared feelings of fear due to the sounds of explosions and relief at finally being back home in Germany. However, he remains worried about friends who live in the city center; their apartment was destroyed, he revealed.
Pure Joy
Daniel Halav, another passenger who was previously stranded in Tel Aviv, exclaimed, "I've never been so happy to be home." While expressing his delight at being back, he also criticized the federal government. "We had to take care of getting to Amman all by ourselves. I feel we were left to our own devices," he reported. Initially, the German embassy in Tel Aviv remained closed for several days in the wake of Israel's attacks on Iran last Friday. The news about the flights from Amman came at short notice, leaving many feeling caught off guard. "I think that's what we pay taxes for, for the government to take care of us," Halav added.
The Journey Ahead
Some passengers described their journey to Amman as an "adventure."
Unlike Germany, other European countries like Poland have organized convoys to take their citizens to Jordan.
The Foreign Office explained that it eschewed organized trips from Israel to the Jordanian airport to avoid additional risks. The initial piece of advice offered to those affected on site is to adhere to the safety instructions of the Israeli authorities. "And they keep emphasizing that they currently advise against travel by land and large gatherings," said a spokesperson.
A Spokesman Previously Stated...
Initially, the Foreign Office clarified that this was not a full-scale repatriation or evacuation action. Instead, it was deemed "commercial special flights" due to insufficient options for passengers leaving Israel through commercial airlines. The flights will continue "if the situation allows and there is a need," the ministry stated.
A special flight is also set for Thursday, but it is already fully booked. Another one is being planned, according to the ministry announcement. The Foreign Office urges Germans to register on its crisis preparedness list Elefand.
Over 4,000 Germans are currently registered on the German crisis preparedness list Elefand, stating that they are in Israel. In Iran, this number exceeds 1,000 registrations.
Germans in Iran advised by the Foreign Office to travel overland to neighboring countries such as Armenia and Turkey. The border crossings there are open. In some cases, it is possible to exit via the border to Azerbaijan. From all three countries, one can continue to Germany with commercial flights. "Germans should take advantage of these opportunities to continue their journey to Germany," it was suggested. "Our embassy in Tehran supports exits, if possible, by directly contacting Iranian authorities."
- Special flight
- Israel
- Iran
- Germany
- Amman
- Homecoming
- Tel Aviv
- Frankfurt
- AA
- Flight
- Frankfurt Airport
- Jordan
- Frankfurt am Main
- Federal Government
- German Embassy
Factors to Consider for Special Flights in the Middle East Conflict
- During conflicts, the German Foreign Affairs Ministry facilitates the return of German citizens from Middle Eastern countries such as Israel and Iran [1][2].
- The ministry coordinates with airlines and possibly other countries to arrange repatriation flights, though details on flight routes or partners are not available.
- Restrictions on airspace and flights, reduced airport access, security threats, and stranded citizens in third countries pose logistical challenges for evacuation efforts [3][5].
- Cooperation with international partners is essential in navigating the complex environment required for these special flights, often involving the use of safe transit hubs outside conflict zones [3][4].
- The group of Germans who returned on a special flight from Amman to Frankfurt Airport were relieved to be back in their homeland, sharing a sense of joy and anxiety due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
- The German Foreign Affairs Ministry is working diligently to facilitate the safe return of German citizens from countries like Israel and Iran during this conflict, coordinating with airlines and potential partners to navigate logistical challenges such as restricted airspace and stranded citizens in third countries.
