Hamas fires a large number of rockets towards Israel – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Anas-Mohammed
In reaction to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Governor Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency on Thursday. According to his office, this enables the Florida Division of Emergency Management to “bring Floridians home and transport necessary supplies to Israel.”
The federal government announced it is setting up charter flights to transport Americans as DeSantis made his announcement. In light of the increasing conflict that began Saturday with Hamas’ unexpected attack on Israel, some commercial airlines have suspended flights to Israel.
The Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard were to be activated if needed, according to a portion of DeSantis’ directive. Additionally, it instructed Kevin Guthrie, director of the Division of Emergency Management, to implement the state emergency management plan as well as “other response, recovery, and mitigation plans necessary to cope with the emergency, including any logistical, rescue or evacuation operations.”
Although the directive allows the Division of Emergency Management to “bring Floridians home” and provide supplies to Israel, it did not specify how such efforts may be carried out in a news release from DeSantis’ office.
DeSantis started a two-day visit to the early primary state of New Hampshire on Thursday as part of his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
More than 20,000 Americans are in Israel, according to the governor’s office, and many “wish to return home but are unable to do so.”
John Kirby, the spokesperson for the National Security Council, revealed during a White House briefing that the Biden administration has begun to plan charter aircraft to move Americans in Israel to other areas.
“Beginning tomorrow, the United States government will arrange charter flights to provide transportation from Israel to sites in Europe,” Kirby said. “They’re still working through some of the details of that to assist U.S. citizens and their immediate family members who have, for whatever reason, not been able to provide commercial transit out of the country.”
The federal government is looking into measures to assist Americans in departing by land or sea, Kirby continued.
“In this time of crisis, we’re focused on getting things done and supporting Israel, that’s where our heads are,” Kirby said.
We do know there are some American citizens who want to leave, Kirby said, adding that he didn’t have “hard numbers” on how many Americans desire to leave Israel.
According to Kirby, as of Thursday afternoon, 14 Americans were still missing and 27 Americans had died in the conflict.
The attack on Israel “has prompted demonstrations and fundraising campaigns throughout the United States, including Florida, intended to intimidate and threaten the Jewish population and to support Hamas,” according to a section of DeSantis’ emergency order.
According to the report, “protective operations” including organizations like the Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Department of Education, and the Board of Governors of the state university system “are expected to strain state and local law enforcement resources.”
The order releases funds from the so-called Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund of the state.
Stories that matter are our priority. At Florida Insider, we make sure that the information we provide our readers is accurate, easy-to-read, and informative. Whether you are interested in business, education, government, history, sports, real estate, nature or travel: we have something for everyone. Follow along for the best stories in the Sunshine State.
Chris began his writing as a hobby while attending Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Today he and his wife live in the Orlando area with their three children and dog.
