Over 8,000 French Jews Immigrate to Israel Since October 7 Amid Rising Trend

On Monday, 140 new immigrants from France arrived in Israel on a special "Families Flight" organized by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Jewish Agency, and the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem. The immigrants were warmly welcomed at Ben Gurion Airport with singing, dancing, and a ceremony attended by Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer and Jewish Agency Chairman Doron Almog. Among the newcomers were dozens of young families, including 80 infants, children, and teenagers who will join the Israeli education system in the upcoming school year. A poignant moment occurred mid-flight when each immigrant received their official immigrant certificate and Israeli ID number, formally becoming Israeli citizens at tens of thousands of feet.

The flight included three pairs of twins and the eldest immigrant, Annie, aged 85, who fulfilled her dream of reuniting with her children in Israel. Since the October 7 attacks, over 8,000 French Jews have immigrated to Israel, reflecting a continuing upward trend. In 2023, 1,097 French immigrants arrived, doubling to 2,234 in 2024, and reaching 3,357 in 2025. By the end of July 2026, approximately 2,400 French immigrants had arrived, marking a 30% increase compared to the same period last year.

Interest in aliyah is also growing globally, with around 80,000 immigration files opened at the Jewish Agency's Global Aliyah Center since October 7, 2023, including 20,000 from France. In 2026 alone, 2,800 French Jews have opened aliyah files, a 30% rise from the previous year. The immigrants were greeted by family members, ministry representatives, donors from the International Christian Embassy, and youth movement members waving Israeli flags.

Minister Ofir Sofer expressed emotion at seeing young families choose to immigrate during these challenging times, emphasizing Israel as the Jewish people's home. Jewish Agency Chairman Doron Almog highlighted aliyah as Israel's growth engine and the importance of supporting each family from the start. Dr. Jürgen Bühler, president of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, called the surge in French aliyah encouraging amid ongoing war threats and praised the immigrants' contributions to Israel's economic and cultural life.