Came to Madrid the plane Hercules which transported 80 Uruguayans who asked to be repatriated from Tel Aviv, Israel, within the framework of the war that crosses that country with Hamas, which has been going on for a week now and threatens to extend over time.
The minister of National Defense, Javier García, confirmed the arrival and highlighted: “Mission accomplished. just landed FAU 594 Hercules at the Torrejón air base in Madrid”. The leader congratulated the crew from his social networks and expressed his “enormous joy that our compatriots are returning home.”
The trip, which lasted about 7 hours, was thanks to a jointly coordinated operation by the Ministry of Defence and of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The plane transported 80 people out of around 250 who requested to be evacuated, in the midst of the war in Middle East.
Uruguayans had time until yesterday to register using a form provided Chancellery, in the midst of the war that broke out after the Hamas attack and Israel’s response to the Gaza Strip.
A second flight is expected for this Monday
At a press conference, the minister Garcia He anticipated that “a second airlift is planned for Monday” to repatriate more citizens and admitted that this will depend on the authorizations, although he clarified that “the majority have already been granted.” According to him, due to the number of registered participants, there could be a third trip.
“We are very happy because the first repatriation flight of 80 compatriots has just landed, most of them very young,” said the leader and highlighted that the families “begin their return home in perfect conditions, safe and sound,” in reference to the journey that follows for the Uruguayans, now on commercial flights.
Furthermore, the minister congratulated the Uruguayan Air Force (FAA). “In 12 hours he planned, coordinated and executed the mission, which was a success, even shortening the planned deadlines,” he highlighted, while thanking the crew members and expressing: “It is a great national pride to have professionals like the ones we have, to fulfill this mission in an extremely difficult situation.”
The first flight gave priority to non-residents
Finally, the chancellor Francisco Bustillo, He specified that on the first trip, priority was given to non-resident Uruguayans in Israel, that “they were out for a walk or visiting” and were caught up in the war.
“Then we will continue with residents who want to leave back to Uruguay”, Indian Bustillo, who spoke of “a small great joy among so much unease and pain that we are experiencing these days.”
Source: Ambito
