Earthquake survivors land in Israel

Only when they saw the 11 survivors healthy and safe in the airport did their loved ones allow themselves to relax. Search continues for Hussein Hamada, still missing in Italy. Consul in Rome goes out to search rubble with Hussein's father: Still chance to find him

Yaheli Moran Zelikovich|Published: 04.07.09 , 11:36

Families are reunited every day in the reception hall of Ben Gurion Airport, but Tuesday's events were particularly emotional as the first of the Israeli survivors of the fatal earthquake in Italy landed. In the meantime, the search and rescue of missing people, including missing Israeli student Hussein Hamada, continues in the Italian city of L'Aquila.

The Israeli Consul in Rome Ofer Mazar and Dr. Amir Hamada, Hussein's father, made their way to the ruined city to search for his son.

Mazar said, "There is still a chance to find Hussein" and noted that a few students were rescued from the rubble Monday night. "We are hopeful that Hussein will also be found," he said.

Emotional family reunions (Photo: Dudu Azulay)

The survivors who landed in Israel looked exhausted and out-of-sorts, many of them after 24 sleepless hours, some still wearing the pajamas they went to bed in before the earthquake shook the ground.

They recounted their experiences from the destruction. "I simply feel like I went through an earthquake," said Azbergah Ziyyad, 21, from Lod. "I survived because I stood underneath the door frame."

Only when they saw their 11 loved ones safe and healthy in Israel did the families allow themselves to breath a sigh of relief. "The parents are stressed out. People here are crying," said one of the relatives, wondering, "We took care of them completely on our own. We bought them tickets, ordered taxis. Why didn't the embassy take care of them?"

In response, the Foreign Ministry said that protocol stipulates that only when lives are at risk do they rescue Israeli citizens on the state's expense. "The Foreign Ministry is doing everything to help the families and victims whether it be finding accommodations, help financially, or issuing travel documents," the ministry reported.

Rahel Feinmeser, spokesperson of the Israeli Embassy in Rome, said, "The Italian authorities continue to host the 40 Israeli survivors in Perugia. Twenty of them will be flown throughout the day to Israel. All the rest will be flown there within the next two days."