DeSantis Leads Rescue of 1,500 Jewish Americans from Israel with Tampa Flights

As tensions flare in Israel amid its conflict with Iran, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has stepped up, orchestrating the evacuation of 1,500 Jewish Americans stranded in the war-torn region. With Israeli airspace shuttered due to relentless Iranian bombings, DeSantis dispatched four wide-body planes to bring these citizens home, landing in Tampa.

The evacuees, mostly young adults from the Birthright Israel program, which offers educational trips to the Holy Land, were ferried to safety via the Mano Maritime cruise ship Crown Iris. The vessel sailed 13 hours from Ashdod, Israel, to Larnaca, Cyprus, under the vigilant escort of the Israeli navy. Birthright Israel CEO Gidi Mark called it a "complex and emotional operation," executed under immense pressure, ensuring the safe passage of these young travelers.

In a move echoing his 2023 efforts, when he evacuated 300 Americans after Hamas’ October 7 attack, DeSantis again criticized federal inaction, vowing Florida would "fill the void." Back then, he and First Lady Casey DeSantis personally greeted evacuees at Tampa International Airport. This time, the operation scales up significantly, reflecting Florida’s deep ties to its Jewish community, the third-largest in the U.S., with some 650,000 residents, particularly in Miami Beach and Boca Raton.

Adding muscle to the mission, Tampa-based State Senator Jay Collins, a retired Green Beret, joined forces with the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation to aid evacuation efforts. Collins, a rising Republican star eyed for lieutenant governor in 2026, left for Israel to help thousands more Americans escape the chaos.

Florida’s bold response underscores its commitment to its citizens and its Jewish diaspora, proving once again that when crisis calls, the Sunshine State doesn’t wait for Washington to act.