Hundreds of Americans on Israel birthright trips evacuated after surviving bombardment by Iran
Hundreds of Americans on Israel birthright trips have been evacuated from the Jewish state on a cruise ship bound for Cyprus — as fears grow over the deadly bombardments by Iran.
The Israeli navy escorted the Birthright Israel ship, with 1,500 people on board, on its ten-hour voyage Tuesday.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis chartered four jets to pick up the Americans and fly them to Tampa, where they can return home.
4 Birthright evacuees at Ashdod port on June 17, 2025.
Erez Uzir, courtesy of Birthright Israel
4 The destruction in the northern Israeli city of Tamra, on June 17, 2025.
AFP via Getty Images
There are nearly 2,800 people on birthright trips in Israel — the vast majority being young Americans, the nonprofit Birthright Israel said.
4 Birthright evacuees safely moved after airstrikes in Israel.
Erez Uzir, courtesy of Birthright Israel
One New Yorker on board said that tensions were mixed over the Iranian ballistic missile strikes that cut the group's Israeli tour short.
'Some are like me and calm while others are scared,' Jaxon Zemachson, 20, of Scaresdale, told The Post.
4 Birthright Israel program participants were evacuated to Cyprus amid Israel's conflict with Iran.
Erez Uzir, courtesy of Birthright Israel
'For me the whole experience has made for a great story to tell my kids. I have honestly been pretty calm about the whole thing, like the Israelis,' he added.
'The first missile attack was a bit scary but from there it was much calmer.'
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