Stressful Homecoming: Germans Make Special Exit from Warzone Israel
Returning Israelis Head to Germany
In a nerve-wracking departure, over 170 Germans, stranded in Israel amid escalating violence, boarded a special flight from Amman, Jordan, to Frankfurt am Main on Wednesday evening. As the region grapples with the aftermath of Israel's conflicts with Iran, these citizens are finally making their way back home, sharing tales of tension and relief.
"The past few days in Tel Aviv were a rollercoaster," said Lionel Reich upon arrival. "During the day, things were calm, but at night, an air raid alert would go off every two or three hours. The sound of rocket impacts was intense, causing widespread fear." Reich, however, felt relieved to be back on German soil, despite expressing concerns for friends still in the city center who have faced devastating damage.
Home Sweet Home and Criticism
Daniel Halav, another overwhelmed traveler, confessed, "I've never been happier to be home." Despite his joy, he criticized the federal government for lacking assistance, stating, "We had to take care of getting to Amman ourselves. In my opinion, we were a bit left to our own devices." Initial closures of the German embassy in Tel Aviv and last-minute news about the Amman flights added to the confusion. Halav posed the question, "Isn't that what you pay taxes for? For the government to take care of you in such situations?"
Many travelers described the journey to Amman as "adventurous." In contrast, some European countries, like Poland, organized convoy trips for their nationals, while Germany opted against organized trips from Israel to Jordan, owing to potential additional risks. Instead, they advised following the security instructions issued by the Israeli authorities.
Commercial Evacuation: A Necessity
A Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed that these weren't repatriation or evacuation operations but "commercial special flights" due to insufficient exit options for the airlines. These flights will continue if the circumstances permit and demand exists. A Thursday special flight is already fully booked, with more being planned.
Germans are encouraged to register on the German crisis preparedness list, Elefand. Currently, over 4,000 Germans in Israel and more than 1,000 in Iran are registered.
Germans in Iran Encouraged to Leave
As the situation in the region remains volatile, a Foreign Office spokesperson advised, "The Israeli military operations in Iran continue, as does Iranian shelling on Israel. Therefore, the airspace over these two countries remains closed, and there are no exit options via plane." Germans in Iran are being advised to travel overland to neighboring countries, Armenia, and Turkey, as the border crossings there are open. Azerbaijan's border is also an option in certain cases, with commercial flights available from all three countries to Germany.
The Foreign Office emphasizes the importance of utilizing these opportunities to return to Germany, with their embassy in Tehran facilitating the exit process, given the abilities and limitations.
"Despite the 'adventurous' journey, some European countries organized assistance for their citizens, like Poland with convoy trips. In contrast, Germans were advised to follow the Israeli authorities' instructions, prompting Daniel Halav to criticize the federal government for lack of assistance, questioning, 'Isn't that what you pay taxes for?'"
"Recognizing the limited exit options for the airlines, the Foreign Office confirmed that the special flights back to Germany were 'commercial special flights.' However, Germans in Iran are advised to travel overland to neighboring countries due to closed airspace, with the Foreign Office encouraging citizens to take advantage of these opportunities and exit the region, stating the importance of utilizing these chances to return to Germany."
