MIAMI — There is newfound relief from Israeli citizens who were stuck in the United States amid the unrest in the Middle East.
Those Israelis are now now getting their very first chance to return home since the start of the war with Iran.
“I’m very excited to go to my home, my children,” said Ilamit Ben-Ami, who is visiting South Florida from Israel.
The first flight for Tel Aviv from South Florida since the stoppage departed on Thursday morning from Miami International Airport.
Previous flights were continuously cancelled due to ongoing missile and rocket attacks.
“I’m going home, we’ve been there since ’89,” said Larry Hirsch. “I’m not scared, but I am a little nervous. Missiles are still flying.”
Hirsch lives outside of Jerusalem. He came to Miami two weeks ago to visit family and was unable to return after his flight home was suddenly cancelled.
“We were supposed to leave Sunday to get us back for the holiday on Monday night, and El Al just sent a WhatsApp message yesterday morning that you’re on the flight,” he said.
While they’re now getting the chance to go home, thousands of Americans remain stuck in the Middle East with flights to the U.S. still not approved.
Lee Aloni, who lives in Cooper City, is visiting family near Tel Aviv.
“We’re just waiting,” she said. “We keep checking the U.S. Embassy online as much as we can, watching the news.”
Since the start of the war, she says her family has been taking cover in their condo’s bomb shelter as alerts sound.
“Being in the bomb shelter is a little unnerving,” she said. “You’re always on edge.”
The U.S. State Department says it’s working quickly to arrange charter and military flights to evacuate Americans.
On Wednesday, officials urged U.S. citizens in Israel, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to register online and be ready to leave on short notice.
“I believe the United States is going to do everything possible to bring us home,” said Aloni. “We’re just keeping our eyes and ears open all the time.”
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