Foreign ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Kayed said Britain, Germany and Canada had initially agreed to accept around 827 rescuers and their relatives, but eventually settled on a figure of 422 and they arrived Sunday morning.
| The Times of Israel adds: |
Jordan has a standing policy not to accept any more Syrian refugees, as does Israel.
On Sunday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision to facilitate the transfer of the "White Helmets" through Israel into Jordan was made in light of requests from US President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
and other world leaders.
"Several days ago, President Trump contacted me, as did Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, and others, and requested that we assist in evacuating hundreds of ’White Helmets’ from Syria," Netanyahu said in a statement from his office.
"These are people who saved lives and were now in mortal danger. Therefore, I approved their passage through Israel to additional countries, as an important humanitarian gesture," the prime minister added.
Founded in 2013, the Syria Civil Defense, or White Helmets, is a network of first responders which rescues maimed in the aftermath of air strikes, shelling or blasts in rebel-held territory.
The White Helmets have rescued thousands of civilians trapped under the rubble or caught up in fighting in battered opposition-held zones along various fronts of Syria’s conflict.
Some members have received training abroad, including in
...the decaying remnant of the Ottoman Empire....
, returning to instruct colleagues on search-and-rescue techniques.
Since its formation, when Syria’s conflict was nearing its third year, more than 200 of its volunteers have died and another 500 have been maimed.
The group’s motto ‐ "To save one life is to save all of humanity" ‐ is drawn from a verse of the Koran.
The White Helmets are named for the distinctive white hard hats worn by volunteers and have gained international renown for their daring rescues of victims from rubble following regime
s, often filmed and circulated on social media.