Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis authorized state officials Thursday to begin work to bring home Sunshine State residents trapped in Israel amid the country’s ongoing war against the Hamas terrorist group.
“We will not abandon our people,” DeSantis pledged Thursday. “To the many Floridians stuck in Israel, trying to get home — help is on the way.”
The 45-year-old governor signed an executive order authorizing the Florida Division of Emergency Management to “conduct logistics, rescue and evacuation operations to keep residents safe.”
As part of the initiative, FDEM “arranged charter flights home for Floridians currently in Israel,” an official told The Post. Additionally, Florida “is working to transport supplies.”
DeSantis’ order also activated the National Guard and Florida State Guard to assist “as needed.”
Ron DeSantis tells Floridians stuck in Israel that help is on the way.Getty Images
Most major airlines, including American, Delta, and United, have suspended flights into and out of the Jewish state amid Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza and Israeli air strikes.
So far at least 27 Americans have been killed in the conflict, while 14 remain missing, according to the Biden administration.
“There are more than 20,000 Americans, including Floridians, in Israel who want to return home but are unable to do so,” the governor’s communications director Jason Mahon said in a statement.
Israel is responding to one of the bloodiest terrorist uprisings seen in decades.AP
“Unlike other national governments, the Biden Administration has failed to launch any form of rescue or evacuation operations for Americans, including Floridians, stranded in the region, and has failed to provide information requested by the State of Florida,” DeSantis said. the order, which took effect Thursday and will remain in place for 60 days.
DeSantis, a staunch supporter of Israel who visited in April, has been a vocal supporter of the US as it grapples with the terrorist threat.
Earlier this week, he proposed a new set of new sanctions on Iran, which supports Hamas.
Ron DeSantis has shown himself to be a staunch supporter of Israel.AP People gather and light candles to show solidarity with Israel in Tel Aviv.REUTERS A rocket is launched from the Gaza Strip coast towards Israel.MOHAMMED SABER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
“[Florida has] has been the number one place for immigration, especially Orthodox Jews, since I’ve been governor,” DeSantis said during a call Wednesday with the conservative Christian group Family Policy Alliance.
“It all comes back to Iran and the Biden administration, unfortunately, has let Iran go. That’s part of the reason they have so much money, we all have to come together as a state and the federal government is really turning Iran around.”
Floridians stuck in Israel can go to www.floridadisaster.org/israel for help.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
