Israel Welcomes 140 New Immigrants from France Including 80 Children on Special Flight

On August 3, 2026, 140 new immigrants from France, including 80 infants, children, and teenagers, arrived in Israel on a "Families Flight." During the flight, each immigrant received their official immigrant certificate and Israeli identity number, symbolically becoming Israeli citizens before landing at Ben Gurion Airport. This flight highlights a significant surge in immigration from France, which has increased by over 30% this year.

Since October 7, 2023, more than 8,000 French immigrants have moved to Israel. The 2026 figures show a continuation of this upward trend, with approximately 2,400 immigrants arriving by the end of July, a 30% increase compared to the same period last year. The growth in immigration from France has been steady over recent years, rising from 1,097 in 2023 to 3,357 in 2025. Additionally, about 20,000 French Jews have opened immigration files with the Jewish Agency's Global Aliyah Center since October 2023, including 2,800 in 2026 alone.

Among the immigrants on this flight were touching personal stories, such as three sets of twins aged from four months to eleven years, and the eldest immigrant, 85-year-old Annie, who fulfilled a lifelong dream of reuniting with her children in Israel. Upon landing, the immigrants were warmly welcomed with a festive ceremony featuring family members, officials, Christian embassy donors, and youth movement members waving Israeli flags and celebrating with songs and dances.

Minister Ofir Sofer expressed his admiration for the young families choosing to immigrate now, emphasizing government efforts to ease their integration into Israeli society and the workforce. Retired Major General Doron Almog described immigration as a growth engine for Israel, highlighting the emotional moment of immigrants becoming citizens mid-flight and reaffirming the state's commitment to support each family from the start to ensure they feel at home in Israel.