US to continue Israel charter flights through at least Sunday

The US State Department will continue to offer government-sponsored charter flights to Europe from Tel Aviv to help Americans leave Israel through at least Sunday, a spokesperson said on Tuesday. The department said about 1,500 US citizens and family members have departed Israel on the charter flights to Athens and other transport options since Friday after offering more than 5,000 seats. The State Department has said flights have generally departed at half capacity or less. The department had previously only committed to offering charter flights through Thursday. Some expatriates were leaving Israel following the Oct. 7 assault by Palestinian militant group Hamas on southern Israel that killed 1,300 people. Israel has responded with a bombing campaign on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Some expatriates were leaving Israel following the Oct. 7 assault by Palestinian militant group Hamas on southern Israel that killed 1,300 people. Israel has responded with a bombing campaign on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. US airlines have added flights to Athens and boosted the size of planes to accommodate Americans flying from Israel seeking to return home. The State Department said over 3,000 U.S. citizens have also told the department they have successfully left Israel and the West Bank in a variety of ways.<br/>