Relief, Joy, Sadness, Guilt, and Grief Interweave as Americans Return Home from Israel
02:01 NEWARK, N.J. — With limited flights available from Israel, many Americans are facing difficulties returning home. CBS New York’s John Dias has spent the past three mornings at Newark Liberty International Airport, speaking with travelers as they arrive from Tel Aviv.
Staten Island resident Elan Rouach anxiously awaited his wife at Terminal B in Newark Liberty International Airport. The relief and joy in his eyes were palpable as he finally embraced her, knowing she had safely made it back to America. Rouach revealed that he and his daughter had been constantly worrying about her while she was in war-torn Israel, taking care of her mother for nearly a month. It was a long and arduous journey for Rouach’s wife to secure a flight back home. Rouach shared, “I was on the phone with El Al every day, waiting on hold for hours, checking for flights. At one point, I even considered sending her to Greece.” However, the day she was scheduled to leave coincided with the outbreak of war in her home country. Rouach’s wife recounted, “There were rockets flying all around the airports and Tel Aviv on the day I planned to come to New York. So we were too afraid to take a flight.” Staten Island resident Iris Benzenu echoed similar sentiments, stating, “There was a rocket flying on the same day I wanted to come to New York. There were numerous rockets near the airport. It was very difficult to find a flight, so it was a chaotic situation. But thank God, we’re now here, we’re home, and I feel safer.” Another woman highlighted the increased difficulty in finding a flight and expressed a desire to feel safe both in Israel and the US.
One woman from Pittsburgh shared her experience of being stranded in Capetown after Hamas carried out terrorist attacks. She finally managed to return to America on Tuesday, but her concern for her loved ones in the Middle East was evident. She revealed, “I am afraid for my son and his son. My 100-year-old mother-in-law has to find her way to a bomb shelter with her caregiver.”
While most individuals expressed relief at escaping harm’s way, they also admitted to survivor’s guilt. Some acknowledged that they could not stay in the US for long, as their families were still in Israel. David Zelig, a resident of Teaneck, stated, “My plan is to keep going back and forth because my family is in Israel. I can’t imagine staying here for an extended period.”
Due to major US airlines temporarily grounding direct flights to and from Israel, most people rely on charter flights and foreign airlines to return home. Daphna Becker from Elizabeth, N.J., described the nightmare she faced in securing a flight. She explained, “I initially tried booking United flights, but they kept getting canceled. So I switched to El Al.”
While most of those who made it back to the US now feel safe, many expressed a desire to return to Israel. Rita Sachs said, “I will be here for two weeks. It was heartbreaking to leave. I left my home, my people, and family who are fighting for our survival. If I didn’t need to be here, I would be there volunteering.” Brooklyn resident Anna Leddi added, “It’s bittersweet. I wanted to be there because I feel like I could help more there than I can here.”
It’s essential to note that there are also individuals locally who have loved ones trapped in Gaza. Palestinian American groups reported around 500 Americans stuck in the city on Monday.
For the latest updates on the war, visit CBS News.
More from CBS News: John Dias is an Emmy-nominated reporter who joined CBS2 News in November 2017.
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