State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33), Brooklyn-based State Sen. Julia Salazar (S.D. 18), and Brooklyn-based Assembly Member Emily Gallagher (A.D. 50) introduced Bill S7716 on Wednesday, Oct. 18, to allow New York State to financially reimburse New Yorkers who are trying to evacuate from Israel and the Palestinian territories during the ongoing crisis in the Middle East since tensions escalated on Saturday, Oct. 7, following an attack by Hamas on southern Israel, which prompted a bombing of the Gaza Strip by the Israel Defense Authority.

Officials from all three elected representatives said violence in the region is escalating by the day, along with the impending threat of a wider conflict with devastating consequences. They said that due to many airlines indefinitely cancelling flights in or out of the region’s airports, hundreds of New Yorkers who were visiting Israel or Palestine at the time tensions escalated have found themselves unable to flee and return safely home to the United States.

They said that with commercial air traffic severely limited, the U.S. government has arranged for charter flights and/or ships to assist in helping people evacuate the area. However, they said these arrangements only provide transportation to locations in Europe, without any further arrangements for lodging or transportation back to the United States. Additionally, they said the U.S. government has required individuals to agree to reimburse the federal government for the cost of what the elected officials described as a “potentially life-saving transportation.”

Salazar, the prime sponsor of the bill, said that while she appreciated that the U.S. State Department had taken what she said was a critical step in providing safe travel options for New Yorkers stranded in Israel and the Palestinian Territories to help them escape, the U.S. government also required those individuals to sign contracts committing to pay back the government for the costs of their rescue.

“This is an unacceptable policy, and a dangerous one in this moment,” Salazar said. “In New York, we should support these residents of our state by offering financial assistance to them in the form of a reimbursement fund. We must act responsibly to help get as many civilians out of harm’s way as possible.”

She added, “We can do this by ensuring that New Yorkers seeking to escape Israel or Palestine do not have to worry about being financially burdened as they make potentially life-saving decisions for themselves and their families.”

For his part, Rivera, who represents some or all of the neighborhoods of Norwood, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Fieldston, Spuyten Duyvil, North Riverdale, Riverdale, Fordham Manor, Fordham Heights, Mt. Hope, Allerton, Pelham Parkway, Belmont, Little Yemen, Van Nest, Indian Village and Morris Park, said his heart goes out to all those impacted by what he called a terrible crisis.

“New Yorkers in the war zone who are seeking safe return through the transportation arranged by the United States government should not be hindered by the future cost,” Rivera, the co-prime sponsor of the bill, said. “This bill will ensure these New Yorkers facing an incredibly dangerous and traumatic situation can focus on returning home without worrying about financial burden.” As reported, the senator had attended a vigil at the Bronx Jewish Center in Pelham Parkway on Thursday, Oct. 12, along with residents, clergy and other elected officials following the latest escalation of violence in the region.

Meanwhile, Gallagher, who will be introducing the same-as bill in the State Assembly, as the prime sponsor, said, “In the midst of escalating violence, personal finances should not be a factor for U.S. citizens in Israel and Palestine to get out of harm’s way.” She added, “This urgent legislation complements rescue efforts by the U.S. State Department by removing any financial burden on New Yorkers abroad who have to make this difficult decision.”

The elected officials said the established emergency fund would ensure reimbursement for otherwise unreimbursed expenses incurred relating to travel outside of Israel or Palestine as a direct result of the conflict that began on Oct. 7, as reported. They said reimbursement will include costs relating to travel, lodging, lost personal property, medical care, other related expenses, and reimbursement provided to the United States government for such travel.