Amid the brutal Israel-Hamas war, which has taken the lives of 5,000 Israelis and Palestinians as well as 29 Americans, Argentina is now taking action to evacuate more than 1,400 of its citizens in the Holy Land.
Argentina, the Latin American country with the largest Jewish population, recently announced its plan to evacuate 1,419 Argentinians from Israel to Rome, as reported by One America News (OAN).
Argentinian Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero detailed the plan at a recent press conference. Cafiero said that the evacuations would be done with the help of the Hercules C-130 aircraft of the Defense Ministry and Aerolíneas Argentinas.
“With the work of the Defence Ministry and Aerolíneas Argentinas, we will start an air bridge from Tel Aviv and Rome,” Cafiero said.
Cafiero added that his ministry is working “with the AMIA [Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina] Jewish community center through private initiatives to evacuate Argentines faster.”
On X, formerly known as Twitter, Cafiero announced the safe return of 45 Argentinians to Rome, where they will receive assistance and “temporary shelter” before returning to their homeland.
El primer grupo de argentinos y argentinas evacuados desde Israel llegó a Roma.
El "Hércules" acaba de aterrizar en el aeropuerto militar Mario De Bernardi. Recibirán asistencia en nuestra embajada antes de volver al país. Gracias a todo el equipo del operativo por el esfuerzo. pic.twitter.com/utxRRCNYEC
— Santiago Cafiero (@SantiagoCafiero) October 12, 2023
Cafiero’s rescuing of fellow Argentinians in Israel follows the efforts of the Mexican government to evacuate Mexicans in the Holy Land.
On Oct. 11, 2023, nearly 300 Mexican citizens were flown out of Israel by the Mexican Air Force, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena.
“Each of the 276 people coming from Israel represents a life saved and families reunited. Mexican women and men with a name and surname,” Bárcena wrote on X.
Cada una de las 276 personas que viene desde Israel representan vidas salvadas y familias reunidas. Mexicanas y mexicanos con nombre y apellido. Hijas, madres, hermanas, que hoy se reúnen en Mexico. Gracias al equipo @SRE_mx @MEscaneroF @vcalva @ofimexpal @SRE_mx pic.twitter.com/O5R60XAw1B
— Alicia Bárcena (@aliciabarcena) October 11, 2023
The efforts of Mexico and Argentina to save their citizens follow the inaction of President Joe Biden to save his fellow Americans stranded in Israel.
Many have spoken out against Biden’s inaction, including U.S. External Affairs Director Ximena Barreto who said it’s “disappointing” to see the president do nothing to rescue Americans stranded in the middle of a bloody war.
Disappointed to see @POTUS inaction on helping stranded American citizens in Israel. While less privileged countries like Argentina and Mexico are actively rescuing their citizens, our fellow Americans abroad deserve better. It's time for action, not silence. https://t.co/aJug6ASbvd pic.twitter.com/MHqW5gloQ2
— XIMENA (@RepublicanChick) October 13, 2023
“Disappointing to see @POTUS inaction on helping stranded American citizens in Israel. While less privileged countries like Argentina and Mexico are actively rescuing their citizens, our fellow Americans abroad deserve better. It’s time for action, not silence,” Barreto wrote on X.
