Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has partnered with nonprofit rescue organization Project DYNAMO to arrange and provide free flights for Americans stranded in Israel. The cost of these flights and the possibility of additional assistance for residents in different parts of the state is yet to be clarified. DeSantis, a 2024 Republican presidential nominee hopeful, has criticized President Joe Biden for what he perceives as a lack of action in helping stranded Americans. In a video posted on Twitter, DeSantis stated that Florida took the initiative in providing leadership where there was a void.
In response to the Biden administration’s announcement of sending flights to Israel, it should be noted that these flights are bringing people to European countries, not to the United States, and passengers are being asked for a refund. The first flight organized by the State Department to evacuate Americans from Israel reportedly landed in Athens, Greece. These evacuation efforts have also provided an opportunity for DeSantis to differentiate himself from former President Donald Trump, who is currently leading the Republican primary. DeSantis criticized Trump after he criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and referred to Hezbollah as “very smart.”
DeSantis further expressed his belief that the U.S. should refuse to take refugees from Gaza, claiming that they are all anti-Semitic. He suggested that Palestinians should seek refuge in Arab states instead. Additionally, DeSantis recently called on the Legislature to prohibit local governments from doing business with Iranian companies and issued a memo reminding police officers about Florida’s laws against antisemitism. These actions align with DeSantis’ strong pro-Israel stance and his efforts to combat antisemitism.
