Title: Parents Anxiously Await Daughter’s Return as School Trip to Israel Ends Abruptly
Published: 21.15
Updated: 21.48
Almost two weeks ago, Martin and Azita’s daughter embarked on a school trip to Israel. What was meant to be an educational journey exploring the conflict between Israel and Palestine has turned into a nightmare as their daughter is now stranded at an airport until tomorrow.
The class from Rudbeckianska gymnasium in Västerås has been traveling around Israel, visiting various sights and meeting different people for the past twelve days. However, the trip took an unexpected turn when the students were asked to stay in Palestine until today, following the advice of the Foreign Ministry.
On Saturday morning, Martin and Azita received a text message with a distressing picture of their daughter. The message stated that the class had encountered missiles and their plane was shot down above them. Despite the terrifying situation, the parents have maintained constant contact with their daughter and the school’s assistant principal.
Now, the school class is stuck at an airport, eagerly awaiting their delayed flight back to Sweden. The flight, which was initially scheduled for 07 tomorrow, has been further delayed until 10 am. Martin and Azita express their immense worry and anticipation to bring their daughter home safely.
Amidst the chaos, Martin appreciates the open communication from the school, stating that the teachers have been fantastic in providing regular updates to parents and looking after the students. Despite the circumstances, the young people seem to feel relatively safe.
Martin has also reached out to the Foreign Ministry to ensure his daughter’s registration on the Swedish list for evacuation. However, he received a disappointing response, with the ministry unable to confirm her registration. Martin expresses his disappointment, comparing Sweden’s response to other countries like Poland, which have plans to evacuate their citizens.
The Foreign Ministry, in an email to Aftonbladet, states that they are closely monitoring the situation but have not made a decision about evacuation yet. They urge Swedes on-site to exercise caution, stay updated via local and international media, and register on the Swedish list.
Meanwhile, the death toll continues to rise as the conflict intensifies. Hamas launched an attack on Israel, firing thousands of rockets, while Israel has responded with attacks on Gaza. Reports state that over 600 people have died in Israel, with more than 2000 injured, while Palestinian authorities report 313 deaths in Gaza.
Martin and Azita anxiously wait for their daughter’s safe return, hoping that the situation stabilizes and evacuation plans are put in place to ensure the safety of all Swedish citizens in the region.