What’s Happening:

Many Americans harshly criticized Biden’s State Department during the botched Afghanistan withdrawal. They were outraged to learn that the government left behind hundreds of Americans in the occupied country.

Now it appears history is repeating itself in the wake of the attacks on Israel. Yesterday, the State Department told Americans stranded in Israel to buy commercial flights to get home. Yet this was hours after most airlines canceled all flights, due to the unfolding war.

It is unclear how much help the State Department is currently provided to Americans stuck in Israel. But a private organization, formed after the fall of Afghanistan, is working to get them home. And they have no kind words for the Biden administration.

From Fox News:
Americans in the hundreds have turned to Project DYNAMO to find a way out of Israel as airlines pause services and avenues out of the country continue to disappear…

All this effort and the high demand prompted Stern to question “where is” the U.S. State Department, arguing that they should be the one to handle these operations but acknowledging it is something that could happen in the coming days.

Project DYNAMO is an organization founded in August 2021, to assist Americans left behind in Afghanistan. According to its founder and CEO Bryan Stern, there are still Americans struggling to get out of that country.

But since Israel was attacked by Hamas, he has received “hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds” of requests from Americans stuck in Israel. Those calls, he said, represent a few people, since a parent will call on behalf of his entire family.

Israel is a popular tourist location. Many hundreds of Americans are in the land at any given time of the year. The sudden and unexpected attack might have left hundreds, or even thousands, of Americans caught in the crossfire.

Project DYNAMO has been exploring options for getting Americans out. One possibility is flying into Jordan and moving Americans by land. But using a plane, Stern claimed, costs between $300,000 to $400,000. The organization relies on donations alone to operate.

Stern appeared to be critical of the State Department, asking “where” are the Biden officials. Private citizens will not have the same resources as the federal government or military. Previously, the State Department appeared to offer little help to Americans, forcing them to find their own way out.

Recent reports suggest the State Department could be organizing a way out of Israel for Americans south through Egypt. It is unknown whether this plan is actually happening.

Key Takeaways:

• Numerous Americans are stuck in Israel as war breaks out with Hamas.
• The State Department previously told Americans to buy commercial flights, as airlines canceled flights out.
• Project DYNAMO, an organization run by civilians, has received hundreds of calls for help.

Source: Fox News