Nearly 150 Members of Congress Urge to Evacuate Americans Stranded in Israel

Smoke in the Rehovot area as rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip, in Israel, on Oct. 7, 2023. Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters

Nearly 150 members of Congress are calling on the Biden administration to use all available resources, including chartering flights, to evacuate Americans seeking to leave Israel amid the ongoing war.

In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Oct. 10, 146 bipartisan members of Congress said they had received “harrowing reports” from constituents trapped in Israel since the terrorist organization Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

At least 1,000 civilians in Israel, including 22 Americans, have been killed in the attack.

Numerous airlines—including American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Ryanair—have halted flights to and from Israel because of the conflict, which has included Hamas firing rockets, some of which have hit Ben-Gurion International Airport, located about 10 miles southeast of Tel Aviv, Israel.

Following the airlines’ decision, the members of Congress called on the State Department to consider chartering flights or utilizing military options to evacuate U.S. nationals who are seeking to return to the United States.

“While we appreciate the steps the Biden administration is taking to provide additional security assistance to Israel, we urge the State Department to use all resources at its disposal, including charter flights, to help those Americans that remain in Israel and wish to return to the United States,” the legislators stated.

“As the number of casualties continues to rise, our constituents who remain in Israel fear for their lives. We ask that you consider charter flights and military options for evacuation simultaneously.”

This came just a day after Rep. Christopher Smith (R-N.J.) wrote a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to “act rapidly and decisively” in providing the necessary support for the safe evacuation of U.S. nationals trapped in Israel.

Rockets are fired by Palestinian militants into Israel, in Gaza City, on Oct. 7, 2023. Mohammed Salem/Reuters

Mr. Smith said that in the past 36 hours, he had received many reports from constituents who are U.S. citizens stranded in Israel or family members of U.S. citizens seeking to return to the United States but are unable to do so.

“I urge you to use all appropriate U.S. resources and tools to arrange for the immediate evacuation of American citizens in Israel who are desperately trying to return home,” Mr. Smith stated in his letter.

“Remaining flights do not suffice to evacuate the large number of U.S. nationals in Israel, and the administration should consider engaging or facilitating chartered flights to get our citizens home.”

Church Groups Stuck in Israel

Members of two Alabama church groups—namely St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Shades Mountain Baptist Church—who were visiting Tel Aviv have found themselves stuck in Israel since the war broke out.

Pastor George Wright of Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, said on Oct. 8 that the 11 members who were part of the trip are “in a very good spot.” He called for prayers for their safe return, The Alabama Baptist reported.

Meanwhile, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Daphne, Alabama, stated on Oct. 9 that its members aim to return to the United States via a route from Dubai. It didn’t specify how many of its members were involved in the trip.

A Florida church group also told The Epoch Times that members are stuck waiting for a flight out of the country.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller speaks at a news briefing on Sept. 11, 2023. Reuters/Screenshot via NTD

Previously, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that U.S. officials have been in contact with U.S. citizens in Israel and, in some cases, have helped to facilitate their departure from the country.

“The airport is still open. There are flights that are getting out of the airport in Tel Aviv. And so we encourage people to try to avail themselves of those options,” he said at a news briefing on Oct. 10.

Mr. Miller noted that the State Department has engaged in discussions with various carriers, asking them to consider resuming travel in and out of Israel. He said the department will persist in such efforts.

“We understand that there are a number of American citizens who want to leave Israel and that currently, it may be that there aren’t enough available flights because some carriers have suspended travel,” Mr. Miller told The Epoch Times in response to a question about citizens stranded in Israel.

“As I said, we have been in discussions with carriers urging them to consider whether they want to resume travel.

“There are still flights that are making it out of Israel, some [Israel’s national airline] El Al flights, other flights ... operated by carriers in the region.”

Jackson Richman contributed to this report.