Arizona senators announce safe return of teens stranded in Israel

PHOENIX (KYMA, KECY) - Arizona Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) announced Wednesday the safe return of American students who were evacuated from Israel.

33 students, including 17 from Arizona, were evacuated during the conflict between Israel and Iran.

The students first arrived in Israel for an educational visit on June 4.

Israel struck against Iran on June 12.

Starting on June 15, parents contacted the two Arizona senators, who immediately began speaking with the Israeli Consulate General.

On June 19, the students were booked on a flight to leave Israel and safely arrived at the John F. Kennedy International Airport on June 24.

"When I first heard about these students, as a dad, I imagined how their parents felt, separated from them without the ability to get them home," said Sen. Kelly. "Senator Gallego and I immediately got to work on the phones calling everyone we could to find them safe passage. And when I talked to some of the parents, they shared their thanks for our work, but just as important for our teams who worked around the clock to bring their kids back to Arizona. But the work isn't done, there are still Arizonans stuck in Israel that we're working to bring home safely."

"No parent should have to endure the fear and uncertainty of having their child caught in a conflict zone," said Sen. Gallego. "My office worked around the clock, leveraging every available resource and contact, to ensure these Arizona students were brought home safely. I'm deeply grateful to the Department of State and our partners on the ground—especially Ambassador Huckabee and the Israeli Consulate General—whose coordination was critical. Knowing these teens are finally home, we can all breathe a sigh of relief."