University of Tampa Grad Shares Harrowing Tale of Escaping Israel as ‘Last One on the Plane’

TAMPA, Fla. – A graduate from The University of Tampa is back home after a dramatic rescue flight from Israel. Abby Gurevitch, 22, had been volunteering in Tel Aviv for five weeks when conflict broke out.

As airstrikes increased, Abby found herself sheltering underground. Bombs exploded just minutes from her place. It was a terrifying situation. Just when she thought she might be stuck, she got a call about a flight to Tampa. She was the last person to board the plane, joining 160 others on a Florida-organized rescue mission.

“I was in the bomb shelter when I heard I was getting on the flight,” Abby recalled. “I had to pack my stuff quickly. It was surreal.”

Her parents, anxious during the crisis, reached out daily to lawmakers for help. “We felt powerless,” they said. “We just wanted our daughter safe.” Governor Ron DeSantis understood the urgency and responded. “We needed to act quickly to help Floridians in danger,” he stated.

After arriving at Tampa International Airport, Abby was ecstatic to be back. “We’re giving each other high-fives. I can’t believe we made it back,” her dad, Earl Gurevitch, shared. Their story sheds light on the risks faced by young volunteers abroad during political turmoil.

According to recent statistics from the U.S. Department of State, nearly 4,000 Americans were evacuated from conflict zones worldwide last year. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by people in crisis areas and the importance of quick response efforts.

As for Abby, she plans to share her experience, hoping to inspire others to contribute to emergency relief efforts in similar situations.

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