Florida continues to demonstrate its commitment to America's ally Israel as they battle Hamas. Just recently, eight of Miami Beach's Fire Rescue have volunteered to serve two weeks in the Jewish State as first responders.
X (formerly Twitter) account Israel in Miami posted pictures and footage of the sendoff ceremony presided over by Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, which featured a group of Jewish children singing both the American and Israeli national anthems.
"Today 8 Miami Beach firefighters head to Israel as volunteers to fill spots of first responders now in war against Hamas. CG @ElbazStarinsky thanked the City of Miami Beach," the account tweeted, referring to Consul General of Israel Maor Elbaz-Starinsky.
Today 8 Miami Beach firefighters head to Israel as volunteers to fill spots of first responders now in war against Hamas. CG @ElbazStarinsky thanked the City of Miami Beach @MiamiBeachNews @MayorDanGelber @MiamiBeachFire @CityManagerMB @alexjfernandez @JewishMiami @tbsmbtweet🇺🇸🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/coPr4hRXnG
— Israel in Miami (@IsraelinMiami) November 6, 2023
Additionally, in an interview with WPLG Local 10, firefighter Adonis Hernandez said he "wanted to make a difference, so I came up with the thought of asking our mayor and commissioners if they would support us and a team going to Israel."
Gelber also spoke of how Israel Defense Forces sent a search and rescue team to assist Miami during the Champlain Towers tragedy in 2021, saying the eight currently going to Israel "felt like this was the place they needed to be."
Shortly after Hamas' horrific attack in October, Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) personally flew to Israel in order to aid Americans out of the warzone, successfully evacuating 98 people.
Two weeks later, Rep. Mills met with 159 more individuals evacuated from Israel, saying he was "deeply honored and proud" to see them safely returned home.
Six days after Rep. Mills' rescue mission, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed an executive order permitting "logistical, rescue and evacuation operations to bring Floridians back home and provide important supplies to our valued ally, Israel," which evacuated 300 more Americans.
"I am proud of how quickly we have been able to activate resources and do what the federal government could not – get Floridians and other Americans back home, reunited with their families, free of charge," said Gov. DeSantis.
