A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department wrote on social media platform 'X' on Friday that the first group of American citizens has left Israel and is currently in Athens. Matthew Miller added, 'American citizens seeking to exit Israel are primarily leaving the country on regular commercial flights, but the government is working to expedite the evacuation process with the help of charter planes and private flights.' He also told CNN that the State Department is monitoring the status of every American citizen who has contacted the department and will assist each of them in leaving Israel in the best possible manner. CNN also reported that since last Saturday, more than 20,000 U.S. citizens have contacted the State Department regarding the situation in Israel, but not all of them are actively seeking assistance to leave the country. According to the network, citing an aviation source, nearly 32 flights are scheduled for the upcoming week to facilitate the exit of Americans from Israel, with most of these flights operating between Tel Aviv and Athens, and some flights also between Tel Aviv and Sofia, Bulgaria. John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House, stated that the State Department will continue to organize charter flights as long as there are requests for assistance from American citizens wishing to leave. Additionally, Molavi Abdulhamid once again took a stance contrary to the Islamic Republic, urging not to seek the destruction of Israel. The German Foreign Minister also visited Israel, expressing solidarity and efforts for crisis diplomacy. U.S. lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties emphasized Israel's right to defend itself. The Israeli Defense Minister stated that the Islamic Republic is the axis of evil; the U.S. Defense Secretary remarked that Hamas is worse than ISIS. The UN Secretary-General declared that the situation in Gaza has reached the 'most dangerous possible level.' The Israeli army reported on 'local incursions' into the Gaza Strip.
First Group of American Citizens Exits Israel on Charter Flight and Arrives in Europe
The first group of American citizens has successfully exited Israel and arrived in Athens, with ongoing efforts by the U.S. government to facilitate further evacuations. Over 20,000 Americans have contacted the State Department regarding the situation, and additional flights are planned to assist those wishing to leave. This situation highlights the escalating tensions in the region and the international response to the crisis.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The first group of American citizens has successfully evacuated from Israel and arrived in Athens, with the U.S. government facilitating further evacuations due to rising tensions in the region. Over 20,000 Americans have reached out to the State Department for assistance.
- More than 20,000 U.S. citizens have contacted the State Department regarding the situation in Israel.
- The U.S. government is organizing charter flights to assist Americans in leaving Israel.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Israel-Palestine conflict has been a long-standing issue, with recent escalations leading to increased violence and humanitarian crises. Iran's involvement in supporting groups like Hamas complicates the situation further.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%