A400M with passengers from Israel landed in Germany

The German armed forces have evacuated German citizens from Israel. Two A400M aircraft with 80 passengers on board landed in Wunstorf early in the morning. According to the German armed forces, further flights are expected.

The German armed forces flew dozens of German citizens from Israel during the night. Two A400M aircraft landed in the morning with a total of 80 passengers from Israel at the Wunstorf Air Base in Lower Saxony, as announced by the Joint Support and Enabling Command through the online service X (formerly Twitter). In addition, an A321 passenger aircraft departed from Cologne to “continue to allow people wishing to leave to return from Israel to Germany”.

The first A400M aircraft from Tel Aviv landed in Wunstorf at around 04:35 local time, according to the Joint Support and Enabling Command. The second German military aircraft arrived at the Lower Saxony military airport at around 07:00. According to the German Ministry of Defense, the two A400M aircraft had relief supplies for Israel on board on the way to Tel Aviv.

Another German military aircraft from Tel Aviv with 82 passengers on board is expected to arrive in Berlin during the day.

Hub in Tel Aviv

According to the German news agency dpa, a “hub” is also being established in Tel Aviv—a hub for possible further flights. However, according to the Ministry of Defense, these flights are “not the start of a military evacuation, as commercial departure options still exist.”

The German armed forces are “in close coordination with the Foreign Office and support it in the so-called rapid air extraction,” said German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius (SPD) on Saturday evening. “We are also prepared for military evacuations if necessary.”

2,800 Germans have already left

In the past few days, the German Foreign Office has already supported approximately 2,800 German citizens and their family members in leaving. The individuals have left the country by land, air, and sea following the terrorist attack by the Islamic militant group Hamas a week ago.

Lufthansa had temporarily suspended its flights from Israel and then operated special flights. The airline cited security concerns and “unresolved questions of operational stability in Tel Aviv” as reasons.

The Israeli military, according to its own statements, is preparing for an “integrated and coordinated attack from the air, sea, and land” on the Islamic militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The preparations are nearing completion, including the call-up and equipping of hundreds of thousands of reserves.

Prepared for all eventualities

A new option for departure through Jordan has so far been used to a very limited extent. The Foreign Office is assisting people who have chosen this option with bus transportation to Aqaba. Departing individuals can quickly and easily obtain an electronic visa or a visa on arrival online.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appealed to German citizens willing to leave to register on the crisis preparedness list “Elefand”. They assured continuous contact with everyone and are preparing “for all eventualities, for example, in the event of an escalation of the situation.”