On Oct. 16, a significant event took place in Haifa Port, northern Israel. Ultra-Orthodox Jews arrived to board the Rhapsody of the Seas cruise ship, not only for leisure but also to assist in the evacuation of Americans amidst the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza.
This mission was initiated by the U.S. Embassy in Israel, requesting the assistance of the Rhapsody of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Americans were given the opportunity to leave Israel and head to Cyprus on a first-come, first-served basis. The New York Post reported that “thousands” hurried to answer the boarding call, which began at 8 a.m. local time. Though there are no immediate figures on the number of evacuees, the ship is capable of accommodating approximately 2,500 individuals at full capacity.
Royal Caribbean expressed their active support for the assisted departure of American citizens, stating, “Royal Caribbean Group is actively supporting the U.S. Department of State in the assisted departure of American citizens,” in a statement to UPI. According to the State Department, approximately 500,000 American citizens reside in Israel.
Last week, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby informed reporters that chartered flights and other alternatives would be made available for U.S. citizens seeking to leave the country. However, as of Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that a ceasefire agreement had not been reached, hindering the safe entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and the evacuation of civilians as the Israel Defense Forces prepare for a potential ground invasion.
The situation remains dire, with reports indicating that 27 U.S. citizens fell victim to the surprise attack by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, and 14 individuals are still unaccounted for. Scenes of destruction and fighting continue to unfold in both Israel and Gaza, leaving countless lives disrupted and displaced.
(Photo by Abir Sultan/EPA-EFE, HTML tags retained)
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