Nations around the world are mobilizing their air assets to evacuate their citizens in response to the escalating conflict in Israel.
Poland has dispatched military aircraft, including the Polish Air Force (PAF) Boeing 737, typically reserved for VIP transport, as confirmed by the Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller on October 9, 2023.
“Applications to our embassy are being received on an ongoing basis,” he said talking to Radio Gdansk. “People who are interested in taking advantage of the support are applying to diplomatic offices.”
C-130 Hercules transport aircraft will also be used, with Polish President Duda authorizing the deployment of a 200-strong Polish Military Contingent and special forces to supervise the evacuation. Currently, a total of 268 Polish nationals have successfully returned to Warsaw.
Similarly, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has sent its Airbus A330-200 capable of carrying up to 242 passengers to Tel Aviv. For this mission, the aircraft will seat a maximum of 230 citizens, with military medics and psychologists to assist the evacuees.
The FAB has also dispatched two Embraer KC-390 Millenniums and two VC-02 aircraft (based on the Embraer E190) for the evacuation mission.
According to the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, over 1,000 Brazilians have expressed a desire to leave Israel amid the chaos. Currently, at least two Brazilian citizens are missing, raising fears of kidnappings by Palestinian terrorists.
The unexpected attack on Israel by Hamas, a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic terrorist group, has resulted in the sudden need for these evacuations. On October 7, 2023, thousands of rockets were launched, causing significant structural damage and numerous deaths. Airlines have temporarily halted flights to and from Israeli airports, and governments are scrambling to ensure the safety of their citizens.
On October 9, 2023, a rocket fired from Gaza crashed near Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV).