Mexico’s government successfully evacuated 276 Mexicans from Israel on Tuesday, according to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photos of the passengers were posted on Twitter, with captions stating that they were safe after landing in Mexico City. The evacuated passengers had made multiple stops in Turkey, Ireland, Canada, and the United States before reaching Mexico. The Mexican government sent two planes from the Mexican Air Force to Israel, bringing back the first 135 Mexicans repatriated from Israel and Palestine. Social media users have praised Mexico’s quick actions in evacuating its citizens.
Mexico’s President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, announced the government’s evacuation plans for Mexicans in Israel on Monday. He stated that a plane would be departing that day to bring back Mexicans who wanted to return to Mexico. The government sent two planes to evacuate its citizens, as there were around 5,000 Mexicans in Israel at the time. The majority of Mexicans in Israel were on tourism trips, particularly religious trips. The Mexican government condemned the use of force and expressed its support for a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
The two planes that evacuated Mexican citizens were led by women and included government authorities, military service members, and doctors. The first plane brought back 135 Mexicans, while the second plane evacuated an additional 141 citizens. The passengers consisted of entire families, elderly individuals, and individuals with illnesses. Once some of the Mexican evacuees reached Israel’s airport, they sang “Cielito Lindo” together. The evacuation was seen as a significant accomplishment, with each person saved representing a life saved and a family reunited.
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