Came Back Home: A Relieved Group of Germans Return From Israel
Immigrants from Israel, Arrived in Germany - Returning Israelis Travel to Germany
In a whirlwind of events, the long-awaited special flight from Israel brought 171 Germans back to their homeland, touching down on the runway of Frankfurt Airport late Wednesday evening.
Lionel Reich, one of the returning passengers, recounted his recent days in Tel Aviv, commenting on the stress and tension that had plagued him due to the relentless sounds of rocket impacts. The sheer relief of being back in the heart of Germany washed over him, even amidst lingering concerns for friends still in Tel Aviv who had lost their homes to the unrelenting conflict.
Daniel Halav, another relieved individual now back in Germany, couldn't hide his joy at finally being home. However, he voiced his frustration with the German government, expressing a sentiment that many in his position share - the process of organizing the journey to Amman had been an uneasy burden on their own shoulders. Initially, he noted, the German embassy in Tel Aviv had been closed for several days following Israel's attacks on Iran last Friday. The sudden news of the flights from Amman had come as a last-minute surprise. "We pay taxes for a reason," Daniel remarked, "to ensure the government takes care of us in times like these."
Several others reported that the journey to Amman had been an adventure in the truest sense of the word.
In comparison, other European countries, such as Poland, had organized convoys to Jordan to aid their citizens.
The German Foreign Office had opted against organized trips from Israel to the airport in Jordan to avoid creating additional risks. The first piece of advice given to those affected on the ground was to heed the security instructions issued by the Israeli authorities and avoid overland travel and large gatherings due to the prevailing volatile circumstances.
Initially, officials had claimed that these weren't evacuation flights but rather "commercial special flights," as the regular options for departing Israel were insufficient. The special flights would continue as long as the situation permitted, and there was a demand for them.
Another special flight is planned for Thursday, but it's already fully booked. More are in the pipelines, as the ministry announced. The German Foreign Office urges Germans abroad to register on its crisis preparedness list Elefand for updates on potential evacuation or repatriation efforts in the future.
According to the current data, over 4,000 Germans are registered on the German crisis preparedness list Elefand, stating that they are in Israel. In Iran, the number of registrations exceeds 1,000.
Citizens in Iran are advised to leave the country as soon as possible. The situation in the region remains tense and unpredictable, officials warn, with the Israeli military operations continuing against Iran, accompanied by Iranian shelling on Israel. The airspace over these two countries remains closed, making it virtually impossible for commercial flights to depart.
The German Foreign Office suggests that Germans in Iran travel overland to neighboring countries, Armenia, and Turkey, to arrange their departure. In some cases, departure via the border to Azerbaijan can also be arranged. From these countries, one can continue to Germany with commercial flights. "Our embassy in Tehran stands ready to assist with arrangements if possible, such as direct contact with Iranian authorities," the German Foreign Office stated.
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- Despite Europe's proactive measures, such as Poland's organized convoys to Jordan, the German Foreign Office chose to avoid creating additional risks by not organizing trips from Israel to Jordan.
- Travel for German citizens in Iran, advised to leave the country immediately, may involve overland travel to neighboring countries like Armenia, Turkey, or Azerbaijan, and then proceed to Germany via commercial flights.
- The relief expressed by returning Germans highlights the need for timely and effective community aid, particularly in the development of less favored regions, ensuring accessibility and security in times of war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news.
