US Jews fleeing Israel-Iran hostilities to fly home in Florida-backed airlift

David Lyons, South Florida Sun Sentinel on Jun 17, 2025

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Nearly 1,500 Jewish Americans — including Florida residents visiting Israel — were evacuated Tuesday aboard a cruise ship to Cyprus, and were scheduled to board flights home that were arranged by the state of Florida.

Birthright Israel, a cultural and educational program mainly for young Jewish adults, said in a statement that the visitors boarded the Crown Iris, an Israeli cruise vessel, for a 13-hour voyage to Larnaca, Cyprus, in the Mediterranean Sea. The ship sailed under the protection of the Israeli Navy.

The organization said it is in the process of “repatriating nearly 2,800 international participants — the majority of whom are young adults from the United States — who have been stranded in Israel due to the escalating conflict with Iran.”

The group aboard the ship was scheduled to be met in Cyprus by four wide-bodied jetliners chartered by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is attending the 55th Paris International Air Show in France on a state-sponsored commercial trip.

The flights from Cyprus were to land in Tampa, according to Birthright Israel, but the organization did not offer any timetable or other details. The governor’s office did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Stranded amid air war

Joy Prevor, vice president of projects for the Broward Jewish Federation, confirmed to the South Florida Sun Sentinel that the organization thus far has verified that more than 150 Broward residents were in Israel either on Birthright Israel tours or for other reasons when missiles started to fly between Israel and Iran last week.

Three people in the latter category include a past president of the Broward federation, as well as two current members of the organization’s board. “They’re just stuck,” she said.

“We have been working with the Israeli consulate, which has been in touch with the governor’s office,” Prevor said.

That’s how Florida’s role in the evacuation plan emerged.

“We are hopeful anyone who needs to get out will get out, but it is being done in a staged fashion,” Prevor said. “I just saw a video of the boat to Cyprus. It’s difficult because they were in such a stressful situation.”

She said no injuries have been reported among the South Floridians visiting Israel.

“Thank God for the Iron Dome and thank God for Israel having a very developed text alert system,” she said, referring to the nation’s missile defense system. “Our people are staying in venues that have shelters.”

Prevor said Birthright Israel initially moved program participants to more secure locations in the south of Israel such as Eilat.

She also said there are a number of Israelis stranded in South Florida who would like to return home.

But commercial airline service to and from Tel Aviv has been suspended. EL AL Israel, the national airline, halted international flights last week. In addition, the U.S. State Department has raised a travel advisory to “Do Not Travel” or Level 4, its highest precautionary level under its advisory system.

‘Immense pressure’

The returning Americans were nearing the end of a 10-day tour of Israel, according to the Birthright Israel statement. All of their transportation costs “are being fully covered by Birthright Israel.”

“Today we witnessed the true spirit of Birthright Israel — not only as an educational journey, but as a global family committed to the safety and well-being of every participant,” Gidi Mark, the organization’s CEO, said in the statement. “This was a complex and emotional operation, carried out under immense pressure, and we are proud to have brought 1,500 young adults safely to Cyprus. Our team continues to work around the clock to secure solutions for the remaining participants still in Israel.”

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