Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) evacuated nearly 100 Americans from Israel this week in the midst of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The act was reminiscent of Mills’ successful rescue of dozens of Americans from Afghanistan following the 2021 withdrawal from that country.
Mills said that his “office and team” were responsible for the rescue of 96 Americans from the Middle East. He said that he was present for the rescue of 77 of the individuals.
The Florida Republican added that his office had “secured a charter aircraft that can hold 218 passengers.” He said that the rescues would not cost those who needed evacuation anything.
Mills added that the team also rescued the son of Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI).
🚨UPDATE: Our office and team haS now gotten out 96 Americans from Israel. 77 of which I was on myself.
We’ve also secured a charter aircraft that can hold 218 passengers. It Will not cost anything the Americans needing ti get out of Israel.
I’m also proud to report that… pic.twitter.com/lAfoq3l02D
— Cory Mills (@CoryMillsFL) October 14, 2023
“I don’t care if you’re Israeli-American or Palestinian-American: If you’re American, I’m willing to get you home, and I’m willing to do what is right,” he said.
The Florida representative also criticized the Biden administration, saying that if he could “get 77 people out on my own, on my own dime, then how is it that the full might of the entire U.S. government under President Biden has gotten zero out to this point? That, in my opinion, is just an absolute disaster.”
The Florida Republican had served in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, including service in Iraq. The newly-elected member of Congress is also well-known for his rescue of a number of Americans stranded in Afghanistan.
Mills worked to rescue an Oklahoman and her three children. Mills traveled to Afghanistan to rescue the four American citizens and criticized the Biden administration’s evacuation from the country.
He said at the time that bureaucratic red tape prevented him from rescuing more people from the country. Mills said that he could have rescued 25 Americans on one plane alone.
Mills also said later that the State Department inaccurately took credit for the rescue. The veteran also discounted a State Department statement that the Taliban did not interfere with the rescue. He said that a Taliban commander initially attempted to block the rescue.
