'DeSantis Airlines': Hundreds of Americans trapped in Israel evacuated to Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis' program to help evacuate Americans trapped in Israel touched down Sunday when the first group of evacuees arrived in Florida.

A charter flight delivered 270 people to Tampa, and seven more were dropped off in Orlando, according to the governor's office. DeSantis greeted evacuees on the runway in Tampa.

The evacuation effort, hailed as "DeSantis Airlines" by supporters, was initiated by the governor after many commercial flights out of Israel were canceled following a surprise attack by Hamas and subsequent retaliatory measures by Israel.

The charter flights come at the same time the Biden administration is chartering flights from Israel to European destinations so passengers could book connecting flights home.

DeSantis declared a state of emergency and directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to coordinate evacuation efforts.

They have partnered with Project Dynamo, which was formed to help rescue people in Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrew troops.

The DeSantis administration is also sending medical supplies, hygiene products, clothing and children’s toys to Israel.

Among the first group of evacuees to arrive in Florida were 91 children.

"These kids are having to dodge rockets, these kids are having terrorists come after them," DeSantis told NBC News at the Tampa airport. "Not the way this world should be."

In an interview with NBC News, one of the evacuees who arrived in Florida after huddling in a bomb shelter in Israel said "on an emotional level it is very overwhelming to be in a situation of where you have a fear of your life."

DeSantis issued an executive order Thursday declaring "a major disaster." In addition to activating the Division of Emergency Management, the order authorizes the leaders of Florida's National Guard and State Guard to activate their forces "as needed" to provide security for Jewish temples and organizations and provide crowd control at demonstrations.