PHOENIX (AZFamily) — More than two dozen American students have returned to the United States after being evacuated from Israel amid the conflict with Iran.
On Wednesday, 33 students, including 17 from Arizona, landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Two Democratic senators say they worked on getting those students back to the U.S. safely once they were informed.
“Senator (Ruben) Gallego and I immediately got to work on the phones calling everyone we could to find them safe passage,” said Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. “And when I talked to some of the parents, they shared their thanks for our work, but just as important for our teams who worked around the clock to bring their kids back to Arizona. But the work isn’t done, there are still Arizonans stuck in Israel that we’re working to bring home safely.”
According to a joint news release, the group of students arrived in Israel on June 4, about a week before Israel launched its first strikes against Iran.
A few days later, on June 15, Arizona parents began contacting the offices of Sens. Kelly and Gallego about the stranded students. Within 48 hours, both senators spoke with U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee and the Israeli Consulate General to help facilitate their return.
Ultimately, the entire group of students secured a way to Cyprus on a Birthright Israel cruise ship. After an 18-hour journey, they arrived on the island before being flown to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and then later back to Phoenix.
“No parent should have to endure the fear and uncertainty of having their child caught in a conflict zone,” said Sen. Gallego. “My office worked around the clock, leveraging every available resource and contact, to ensure these Arizona students were brought home safely. I’m deeply grateful to the Department of State and our partners on the ground—especially Ambassador Huckabee and the Israeli Consulate General—whose coordination was critical. Knowing these teens are finally home, we can all breathe a sigh of relief.”
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