Special Flight Organized to Evacuate Germans from Israel

The German Foreign Office is coordinating a second special flight to facilitate the evacuation of German nationals stranded in Israel due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. This flight is scheduled to depart from the Jordanian capital, Amman, as airspace over Israel remains closed.

Following the outbreak of hostilities, many German citizens and their immediate family members found themselves unable to leave Israel. The latest charter flight aims to transport these individuals back to Germany. The first flight had already successfully transported 345 passengers from Amman, while two Bundeswehr military aircraft recently returned 64 German citizens to Cologne/Bonn Airport.

These military flights marked the first direct evacuation of German nationals from Israel since the conflict escalated approximately a week ago. Reports indicate that these aircraft received special authorization to land in Tel Aviv.

Details regarding the number of individuals expected to be evacuated in this latest flight remain undisclosed. The Foreign Office has stated that all Germans registered on the crisis prevention list will be kept informed about the specifics of these flights. However, evacuees are responsible for reaching the airport independently due to security considerations and personal circumstances.

To assist those on the ground, embassy personnel are stationed at the Allenby border crossing between Jordan and Israel, as well as at the airport in Amman.

As of now, about 1,000 Germans are still in Iran, alongside approximately 4,000 in Israel. The Foreign Office has indicated that commercial flight options from Amman are still inadequate. They have urged all German citizens to register on the Elefand crisis prevention list and to ensure their information is up to date.

Moreover, the challenges of leaving Iran remain significant, although possible. The Foreign Office has not announced any special flights for those currently in Iran. Nevertheless, border crossings into Armenia and Turkey are open, making it feasible for individuals to exit the country through these routes. Additionally, there may be selective opportunities for travel through the Iran-Azerbaijan border.

Regular commercial flights are operational from both Armenia and Turkey, as well as Azerbaijan, as the airports and airspace in these regions are open. The Foreign Office advises Germans to consider these options for returning to Germany.

Due to the precarious security situation in both Iran and Israel, overland travel poses considerable risks. Consequently, the formation of large convoys has been deemed impractical and dangerous, as it would necessitate gathering individuals from various regions at a single meeting point, which could lead to extended travel times and increased risk of exposure to ongoing airstrikes.

Thus, German nationals in the region are encouraged to assess their options for exit on a case-by-case basis, based on their unique circumstances.