A total of 140 new olim from France arrived in Israel on Monday aboard a special “Families Flight” organized by Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and the Jewish Agency, in cooperation with the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.

The flight included dozens of young families, with approximately 80 infants, children, and teenagers who are expected to enter Israel’s school system before the upcoming academic year. Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer and Jewish Agency Chairman Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog accompanied the olim on their journey.

In a symbolic moment during the flight, each oleh received an official aliyah certificate and Israeli identification number before landing, officially becoming Israeli citizens while still in the air. After arriving at Ben Gurion Airport, one emotional oleh kissed the ground upon stepping onto Israeli soil.

Among those arriving were three sets of twins, including four-month-old Mia and Ethel, five-month-old Noam and Nerly, and 11-year-old twins Noa and Avidan. The oldest oleh on the flight was 85-year-old Annie, who fulfilled her lifelong dream of making aliyah and reuniting with her children in Israel.

According to the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and the Jewish Agency, approximately 2,400 French Jews have made aliyah through the end of July 2026, a more than 30% increase compared with the same period last year.

Since the October 7 Hamas massacre, more than 8,000 olim have arrived in Israel from France. Aliyah from France has risen steadily, increasing from 1,097 olim in 2023 to 2,234 in 2024 and 3,357 in 2025.

Interest in aliyah has also surged worldwide. Since October 7, 2023, approximately 80,000 Jews have opened aliyah files through the Jewish Agency’s Global Aliyah Center, including around 20,000 from France. More than 2,800 French Jews have opened aliyah files since the start of 2026, also representing an increase of more than 30% compared with the same period last year.

The new olim were welcomed at Ben Gurion Airport by family members, government officials, representatives of the Jewish Agency and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, and youth movement members waving Israeli flags, singing, dancing, and celebrating their arrival.

Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer said it is inspiring to see young families choosing to make aliyah during this period, emphasizing that they are choosing to raise their children in the Jewish homeland. He noted that recent reforms—including programs for students, streamlined professional licensing, and housing initiatives—are designed to help new immigrants integrate quickly into Israeli society and the workforce.

Jewish Agency Chairman Doron Almog called aliyah a key driver of Israel’s growth, saying that watching children board a plane in France and disembark as Israeli citizens is a powerful reminder of the strength of Zionism. He pledged that every new family will receive support from the moment they arrive so they feel that Israel is truly their home.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)