Thousands of Americans fleeing the war in Israel scrambled to board a cruise ship Monday that will take them to neighboring Cyprus.
The US Embassy in Israel announced an evacuation plan on Sunday, offering the opportunity for 2,500 Americans and their immediate family members still in Israel to go by sea.
The move comes as the Israeli military prepares for an all-out ground assault on Gaza in retaliation for last week’s deadly attack by Hamas that killed at least 1,400 people, including at least 29 Americans.
Cruise line Royal Caribbean stepped in to help after commercial airlines mostly stopped flying to Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport, making it extremely difficult to get out of the country.
US citizens, among them infants and children, desperate to escape the escalating hostilities in the region made their way to the port city of Haifa in the early hours of the morning, hoping to secure space on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas that would take them. to safety.
US officials in Israel on Monday began evacuating Americans by sea aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas cruise ship.ABIR SULTAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock About 2,500 Americans who found themselves stranded in Israel due to the war are expected to board the ship.AFP via Getty Images The US Embassy in Israel announced evacuation plans Sunday.AFP via Getty Images
Boarding begins at 8 a.m. local time and is available on a first-come, first-served basis, according to embassy officials.
Evacuee Idella Schatzberg will leave for Cyprus with her two young children in tow. Her husband is staying behind for now, but hopes to rejoin the family in Dallas on Wednesday, she told ABC News.
The worst attack on Israel in 50 years: How we got here
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.
2006: The terrorist group Hamas wins Palestinian legislative elections.
2007: Hamas takes control of Gaza in a civil war.
2008: Israel launched a military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the city of Sderot.
2023: Hamas launches its biggest attack on Israel in 50 years.
More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed, more than 3,500 injured and at least 100 taken hostage, with the death toll expected to rise after Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli cities.
Hamas terrorists are seen taking women hostage and parading them through the streets in a gruesome video.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We are at war” and promised Hamas would pay an “unprecedented price.”
Gaza health officials reported at least 2,750 Palestinians killed and more than 9,700 wounded.
“I’m always nervous, and I can’t do that to my kids,” the mother said. “I can’t let them live like this.”
The passage from Haifa to the Port of Limassol in Cyprus is expected to take between 10 and 12 hours, with food and internet services available to passengers on board.
Americans are racing against time to leave Israel ahead of an imminent ground attack on Gaza. AFP via Getty Images US citizens were forced to flee by sea after most commercial airlines stopped flying to Israel’s main airport. AFP via Getty Images Arriving in Cyprus after a 10- to 12-hour sea voyage, the Americans will be able to board a flight to take them home. AFP via Getty Images
In Cyprus, displaced Americans will be able to board commercial flights to take them all the way home.
The US State Department said that in addition to the ship, chartered flights from Israel would be available to Americans on Monday and Tuesday.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
