– I have never hugged so many strangers. Linn Myhr was one of 190 Norwegians who landed at Gardermoen on Tuesday evening. She was one of several tour guides for 70 Norwegians who were to visit Løvhyttefesten in Israel. Her husband traveled with her. After a week on tour, they were to end with quiet days in the city of Netanya, a city north of Tel Aviv. On Saturday, they woke up to reports of ground forces inside Israel. From the hotel they heard the sound of planes, helicopters and powerful drones. – We continuously saw helicopters and fighter jets directly above the hotel. The tour was organized by IKAJ Norway, with tour leaders Dag Øyvind Juliussen and Bjarte Ystebø. They were strictly instructed not to be more than 90 seconds away from the bomb room. The next day they were to return home to Norway, but several of the elderly had run out of their medication. A doctor came to the hotel to help them. – He looked at me and said: “We are not safe here”. Then the seriousness sunk in on us, says Myhr. Canceled flights On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war. The flight to Myhr and the traveling party was cancelled. On Monday, they managed to get a new plane, which was quickly filled up by a total of 190 Norwegians. They were helped by a tour operator. They had to turn away several who wanted to join. – We heard drones and rockets on the way to the airport. When we got to the airport in Tel Aviv, we got together. – Suddenly everyone started running. They were told to run down to the bomb room at the airport. From the bomb room at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Photo: Privat / news – People were very, very scared and started looking for their own. In the traveling party there were several young people who traveled alone. – They came running, shaking their whole bodies. I sat down and held them around, says Myhr. Myhr’s voice trembles when she continues. – The rumor was that there were two Hamas fighters who had entered the airport. They were taken care of by guards at the airport. Whether it was true or not, the fear was the same. The flight they had got hold of was also cancelled, and they had to find yet another route out of the country. At the same time, the conflict escalates. The death toll continues to rise in both Israel and Palestine. After another night, they took a bus to Eilat airport, in the very south of Israel. A new plane was waiting for them there. Then they drove closer to the Gaza Strip. On the way they saw the military and heard even more drones. – I sat with my heart in my throat, but tried to create a good atmosphere on the bus. We talked about nature and the biblical events that took place there. Saw the bombs rain from the plane When they were finally allowed to board the plane, many were relieved. Linn broke down when she walked through the aisle and saw the entire traveling party together on the plane. Linn Myhr and her husband Kjell Martin Myhr sent this picture to the children at home when they were finally allowed to board the plane. She sat down with the emergency exit and started sending messages to those at home. The flight attendant began to explain how the emergency exit worked. Then he bore his eyes into her. – Pay attention! We are going to fly through a war, said the flight attendant. Then she understood that they were not yet safe. – I planned what I would do if we had to make an emergency landing and repeated it to myself again and again. They saw rockets exploding, bombs going off, and “iron dome” as they flew in the dark. – I have never been so scared in my entire life. When they were out of Israeli airspace, they could breathe easy. – I didn’t get my breath back until we were well over the Mediterranean. I tried to sleep, but the tears just flowed. – Then I only thought about my own homes. When they landed at Gardermoen just after midnight, they were met by family and friends. – Several of us broke up. Father and son Juliussen finally together again. – We were completely alone Safely back in Norway, Myhr tells us about how the dialogue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOF) has been. – I am shocked that they have not stood up for us. It has been a rush to get home. – Many of the other countries send military planes at the same time to bring them home. Why didn’t the Ministry of Foreign Affairs do it? asks Myhr. On Wednesday morning, Huitfeldt announced that they had set up a plane to bring Norwegians home on Wednesday evening. They also send three employees to Tel Aviv to meet Norwegians on their way home. On Tuesday, State Secretary Andreas Kravik (Ap) told news that they were working hard to help Norwegians in the area, but that travelers must take responsibility for their own safety. – We work around the clock to help those who want to get out. We have seen crisis staff in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we have dedicated resources both here in Oslo, but also in the region to provide practical and useful advice. It is time, says Myhr. – Finally. I don’t know what they were thinking. Wasn’t the situation we were in enough to react more quickly? says Myhr. – We felt completely abandoned. We were over 190 Norwegians who were scared and desperate.
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Norwegians in Israel are critical that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not doing more to help them return home – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
